Maternal Mental Health and Newborn Intensive Care Units: Regional Experiences in Argentina

The birth of a high-risk newborn is a predisposing factor for the development of maternal mental health problems. Although there is ample evidence that fetal and infant complications are risk factors for maternal mental health, there is a lack of research that includes Latina and Spanish-speaking women in the United States and Latin America. This chapter describes perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and the implementation of local and national actions that enable timely care for the families of newborns in the context of health difficulties in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in Argentina. The chapter also describes comprehensive care strategies for families during their stay at the NICU. Current healthcare policies and research in Argentina are presented. The chapter ends with the recommendations for a family-centered, safe maternity model, with the legal framework and regulations that represent a protective factor in mental healthcare for women and their families in the NICU. We advocate for increased investment in research and comprehensive health care to help families cope with fetal and neonatal complications.