The migrant experience and motherhood

The hopes and expectations migrant women have of the new country is a powerful intrapsychic influence on adaptation to the new society. Many women are told by relatives and friends in their homelands that they will be fully responsible for the care of their husband and children (Tummala-Narra, 2004). Some women anticipate that they will be freed of the traditional constraints and will have greater freedom and the ability to decide for themselves in the new country. Professional women expect to be able to continue their careers in their country of migration.

For the general population, the most common predictive factors for postnatal depression are: previous history of depression; manifestation of maternity blues the first days after birth and; poor social and marital support (Beck, 2001; Gonidakis, 2012; Robertson et al, 2004). Similar factors have been related to the development of postnatal depression in migrant mothers (Gonidakis, 2012; Stuchbery et al., 1998). Specifically, the relationship between social support and the development of postnatal depression has been extensively investigated in migrant populations (Gonidakis, 2012). Stuchbery et al. (1998) have conducted a study on social support and postpartum depression in a sample of Vietnamese, Arabic and Anglo-Celtic mothers living in Australia. The study found that for Vietnamese mothers, low postnatal mood was associated with a poor quality relationship with the partner and a perceived need for more practical help from him. For Arabic women, low postnatal mood was associated with a perceived need for more emotional support from partners while for Anglo-Celtic women the need for emotional support was directed both to the partner and the woman's mother. Stewart et al (2008), have reported that migrant women with less prenatal support were more likely to develop depressive symptomatology after giving birth. The authors suggest that lower social support could be the factor that increases the risk for postpartum depression in newcomers.