Mental Health in Newborns

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Mental Health in Newborns

Mental Health in Newborns

You might be wondering if there is such a thing as mental health for newborns. In fact, the answer is yes, there certainly is. The term "newborn" typically refers to the period from birth to 28 days, although in society it is often extended to the 0-40 day range. In essence, the term "newborn" refers not to the first days of life, but to a period of approximately 4-5 weeks.

Let’s consider the newborn period from a mental health perspective, step by step, starting from the birth process:

Initially, while still in the womb, the baby is referred to as a "fetus" and has not yet developed the ability to perceive the outside world through its five senses. We all know that the process of fetal development is much more complex and prolonged. As the development progresses step by step, a miraculous transformation occurs, which involves both physical and psychological aspects.

The known facts are that the physical experiences of the mother—such as movement, exercise, abdominal protection, and her diet—affect her during pregnancy. However, it is now understood that the fetus is also psychologically influenced during this time.

Whether the pregnancy was planned by the parents or occurred unexpectedly can even influence the fetus in profound ways. When I mention this, can we say that this will always result in negative effects on the newborn’s health? Certainly not. I will address this topic further in a moment.

Consider the situation where the mother finds out about the pregnancy later than expected and had an initial reaction that was complex and rejecting. Essentially, she did not want this pregnancy.

In the case of an unwanted pregnancy, the fetus absorbs the mother's negative feelings. Some mothers say that they did not want the pregnancy but accepted it after giving birth. The mother’s first expression of affection eventually takes over, and she begins to offer it to the child. However, how does being unwanted during pregnancy affect the newborn's mental health? Reflect on that for a moment.

The Object Relations Theory and Newborn Mental Health

The object relations theory makes significant propositions regarding newborn mental health. According to this theory, while the fetus is still in the womb, it experiences a kind of "heaven." It is one with the mother. The fetus’s first experience of separation occurs during birth, and it reacts with crying as a result of this experience. After birth, the baby latches onto the mother’s breast, continuing its organic bond with her. As the baby grows, it gradually begins to understand that it is a separate individual, a process that lasts until about 8-9 months of age. After this stage, the process of attachment continues to develop.

Now, let’s return to the birth process:

During birth, physical movements occur automatically, but a normal birth happens through the mother’s effort at the right moment. Even at this stage, the fetus undergoes a transition into the newborn phase. The fetus psychologically prepares itself during this time.

The Five Senses and Early Learning

The result of this transition is the beginning of the newborn’s process of perceiving and learning about the world through its five senses: vision, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. During this process, the five senses begin to develop. However, vision and hearing are not fully developed at this stage. The sensory input that is more dominant during certain periods will result in stronger reactions to that particular sense. For instance, the sense of touch is highly active initially, so simple acts like the newborn touching the mother's skin or breast can be soothing. During the months when auditory development is more dominant, the baby will respond more intensely to sounds.

Now, consider how the newborn might be affected by being separated from the mother for several hours in the first week. From this perspective, it’s perhaps not necessary to elaborate on the struggles premature newborns face in incubators.

Psychiatric Diagnoses and the Newborn Period

The newborn period is not a time during which psychiatric disorders are diagnosed. However, every action, gesture, and behavior can have a much greater impact than we often realize.

Looking at this from a certain perspective, many of you might think, "Perhaps it's best not to have children at all." But that’s not the case. Human development is not a straightforward process; it is always a process that evolves through struggle and continues to advance as it grows. Even during pregnancy, there is both physical and psychological struggle. Being prepared for life is not a linear game.

Our vulnerability to certain thresholds may require us to undergo trauma or experience intense difficulty before we can cross them. Or, when faced with significant challenges, our genetic, physical, and psychological makeup might not be enough to respond. Once the threshold is crossed, the likelihood of developing psychiatric disorders increases. This can be metaphorically compared to a glass that gradually fills and eventually overflows.

The Impact of Unwanted Pregnancy

However, I must warn you: the situation of an unwanted pregnancy already fills most of this metaphorical glass.

In conclusion, we hope for healthy generations and healthy newborns.