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Introduction: the impact of prenatal maternal affectivity on infant development is poorly documented in Africa. The purpose of our study is to determine the relationship between mother feelings about pregnancy and childbirth, infant´s behavior and development., Methods: one hundred and twenty mothers aged 28,4 years (± 12,18 years) with their babies aged 38,70 months (± 19,19) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study based on an interview and questionnaire on maternal affectivity, mother-child relationship, infant´s behavior and psychosocial development. Maternal depression was assessed by Edinburgh (EPDS), Goldberg Depression and anxiety scales and DSM-IV (MINI) criteria. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney were used to describe the relationship between maternal affectivity and infant's behavior and health., Results: unintended pregnancy and fear of childbirth were associated with high anxiety and depression scores. Negative feelings about pregnancy were associated with the lack of social support by the child´s father (0.0110), stress when women were pregnant with a frustrated child (p=0.046), difficult consolability (p<0.001), poor baby's health (p=0.010), infant non-affiliative behavior (p=0.034) and depression identified by using EPDS (p=0.028). Fear of childbirth was associated with delayed or absent responses to infant´s signals (p=0.002) and stress if they were carrying a frustrated baby (p=0.020)., Conclusion: negative feelings during pregnancy are predictive of maternal depression, mother-child relationship disorders, infant´s health and development., Competing Interests: Les auteurs ne déclarent aucun conflit d´intérêts., (Copyright: Daniel Okitundu Luwa E-Andjafono et al.)

Objective: The objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of the post-partum depressive symptomatology in a sample of Tunisian women, to study associated factors and to assess its relationship to quality of life., Patients and Methods: This is a prospective study carried out in two stages: during the first week (T1), then between sixth and eighth week post-partum (T2). Depressive symptomatology and quality of life were assessed respectively by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale., Results: In the first stage, the prevalence of depressive symptomatology in the total sample (150 women) was 14.7% and was related to age above 35 years, low school level, personal psychiatric history, multiparity, caesarean delivery or forceps in the previous pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy. This prevalence was 19.8% among the 126 women reviewed in T2 and was correlated with the exaggerated sympathetic signs during pregnancy, namely perversion of taste and fatigue. Quality of life was strongly correlated with depressive symptoms in T1 and T2., Conclusion: Post-partum depressive symptoms were common in our sample and were correlated with quality of life. Therapeutic measures should be proposed for women with post-partum depressive symptoms and particularly with several risk factors in order to improve their quality of life., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Adolescence and pregnancy are two periods which involve major psychological and identity changes. Teenage pregnancies are often considered to be a result of a confusion between these periods. The circumstances of teenage pregnancies and early motherhood are diverse and sit within the wider context of the psychopathology of adolescence, the heterogeneity of family configurations and evolutions in society., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Motherhood centres can cater for teenage couples with their baby. They support their parenthood project and oversee the establishment of solid bonds with their child. This support of the family cell is essential. It comprises specific help for the young man on his first steps towards parenthood., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The perinatal psychology and psychiatry unit of Caen university hospital has put in place two systematic intervention protocols relating to pregnancy: teenage pregnancy and denial of pregnancy. Professionals are particularly concerned with teenagers with a history of early emotional deprivation and mistreatment, with the spectre of repetition. A partnership with a motherhood centre helps all concerned to work together to build resilience., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The monitoring of pregnant teenagers provides understanding of the radical changes represented by a pregnancy and the birth of a baby during adolescence. Whether they are with a partner or not, supported by their family or isolated, they need specific support in order to help them adapt to motherhood., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Depression, anxiety disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, all indications for antidepressant use, are common disorders in women of childbearing age. Nevertheless, antidepressant use during the gestational period remains a controversial topic. Given that 50 % of pregnancies are unplanned, the safety of antidepressants during the first trimester of pregnancy, a critical period for foetal development, has become a major public health concern. Until now, most studies suggest that physicians may often under-prescribe or discontinue antidepressants at the time of conception and during pregnancy. This may be a consequence of the concern over the safety of these agents in pregnant women and the risks they may pose to the foetus. In fact, recent studies and warnings from Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration have reinforced this uncertainty regarding the adverse effects of antidepressant use on the foetus. On the other hand, discontinuation of antidepressant use during pregnancy was also recently associated with maternal relapse of depression and withdrawal symptoms, which is not optimal for the mother and her foetus. Consequently, women who wish to become pregnant and who suffer from psychiatric disorders are faced with the difficult task of deciding whether to continue or discontinue their antidepressant during pregnancy. At this time, it appears important to take into account all evidence-based data to evaluate the risks/benefits of using antidepressants during the gestational period in order to help mothers make the best choice for themselves, and their infants.