Appropriate Support for “Specified Expectant Mothers”

“Specified expectant mothers” are defined as pregnant women at high risk of needing extra support after birth. To provide them appropriate support, the methods for evaluating specified expectant mothers should be standardized. Thus, in this study, I reviewed the evaluation and multidisciplinary collaboration in some regions reported to be actively supporting specified expectant mothers in Japan. The main items related to “specified expectant mothers” were as follows: (1) mental disorders, (2) younger age, (3) no consultation/late first visit, (4) poverty, and (5) multiple pregnancy. It is important to proactively identify and confirm the problems faced by pregnant women through screening and interviews conducted by the medical staff.