Motherhood for women with serious mental illness: pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

Although women with serious mental illness have normal fertility rates, the literature points to multiple risk factors and a paucity of emotional and economic support during the initial phases of parenthood. Since most research has focused on child outcomes, the extent and nature of parenting problems experienced by these mothers are not adequately understood. An emphasis on the context of parenting and the meaning of pregnancy and childbearing to these mothers is called for and implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.