Session 4: Mother-Infant Relationship
SMART goals: By the end of the eight-hour sessions, the group will be able to identify at least three new coping skills to alleviate maternal depression.
Objective 3: The group will learn about maternal depression.
Agenda: 50 minutes with a 10-minute break
Icebreaker activity~ 10 minutes
Mother-infant educational~10 minutes
Discussion regarding the mother-infant connection~20 minutes
Sticky note activity~5 minutes
Lesson plan:
Icebreaker activity:
Ask participants what motherhood looks like for them in at least 3 words. Have the facilitators or volunteers from the group write down the words on a large sheet of paper.
If anyone feels comfortable sharing the words they suggested ask the participant to share.
Mother-infant educational:
The mother-infant relationship is relatively important for infant development. Furthermore, a healthy relationship between a mother and infant promotes traits such as curiosity, self-esteem, and independence (Darvishvand et al., 2022). Emotional regulation can also be improved by having a positive mother-infant relationship. Infants are unable to regulate emotions and rely on their caregivers in order to help them regulate emotions. Mothers and infants may also have a better attachment that extends well past infancy. Physical development may also be affected by the mother-infant relationship. Physical touch has been shown to promote healthy weight gain in infants and an overall feeling of security (Darvishvand et al., 2022).
Multiple studies have emphasized that strengthening mother-infant relationships helps reduce maternal depression and related symptoms (Coo et al., 2018; Kariuki et al., 2020). This empowers mothers in their role, as they are actively becoming more competent by developing and strengthening the mother-infant relationship (Kariuki et al., 2020). Infants can interact through touch, eye contact, and human voices. Studies that focused on mother-infant relationships encouraged mothers to bring their children with them to the group in order to actively engage in coping mechanisms and use the group as an opportunity for the direct application of the knowledge and skills obtained in the group (Coo et al., 2018; Deans et al., 2016).
Discussion regarding the mother-infant connection:
Have participants sit in a circle with their child and discuss these questions:
- Do you have any questions about the educational?
- What does your daily routine look like with your child?
- What are the barriers to having a positive mother-infant relationship?
- What are ways that you can bond with your infant?
- Are there any other words that have come to mind after completing the icebreaker activity? If so, what are they?
Sticky note activity:
Each participant should write questions they have about maternal depression on a sticky note and place it in the designated bucket/bowl/hat.
Materials:
Sticky notepad, writing utensils (marker), a large sheet of paper, and tape.
References:
Coo, S., Somerville, S., Matacz, R., & Byrne, S. (2018). Development and preliminary evaluation of a group intervention targeting maternal mental health and mother-infant interactions: a combined qualitative and case series report. Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology, 36(3), 327–343. https://doi-org.proxy.longwood.edu/10.1080/02646838.2018.1443435
Darvishvand, M., Khalesi, Z. B., & Rahebi, S. M. (2022). Mother-infant relationship and its Predictors. JBRA assisted reproduction, 26(1), 68–72. https://doi.org/10.5935/1518-0557.20210029
Deans, C., Reay, R., & Buist, A. (2016). Addressing the mother–baby relationship in interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: an overview and case study. Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology, 34(5), 483–494. https://doi-org.proxy.longwood.edu/10.1080/02646838.2016.1221502
Kariuki, E. W., Kuria, M. W., Were, F. N., & Ndetei, D. M. (2021). Effectiveness of a brief psychoeducational intervention on postnatal depression in the slums, Nairobi: a longitudinal study. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 24(3), 503–511. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01085-1