The expert opinion of a Spanish psychiatrist has proven crucial in overturning a woman’s conviction in a case of pregnancy denial

The evaluation of psychiatrist Ibone Olza has been key in the process of understanding this mental disorder.This case in Costa Rica is a clear example of restorative justice in recognizing that both judicial and healthcare systems failed the woman.   On June 8th, the Court of Justice of San José (Costa Rica) acquitted 35 year-old…

Midwives, Art Therapy and fear of birth

Fear of childbirth (FOC), also referred to as tokophobia, is related to feelings of limited capability in the face of childbirth and affects the pregnant woman’s quality of life. It is more common in nulliparous women but can also be related to earlier traumatic birth experiences. A new study, recenlty published in the Journal of…

Yoga, mindfulness and other psychological interventions for stress and anxiety during pregnancy

A systematic review and narrative synthesis of fourteen studies conducted in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK and USA, published in the last issue of Archives of Women’s Mental Health, focuses on women’s views on the acceptability of and satisfaction with non-pharmacological interventions to reduce the symptoms of anxiety in pregnant women. Studies included women…