JANE LITTLEWOOD is Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at Goldsmiths' College, University of London. She holds qualifications in sociology, social psychology, social science and social work. She has written widely and her main research interests are concerned with the impact of loss upon women.NESSA McHUGH is a practising midwife, currently working as a Lecturer at De Montfort Univerity. She holds qualifications in psychology, general nursing, midwifery and women's studies. Her main research interest concern the changing context of childbirth. She is also the mother of two young children.

• List of Tables and FiguresAcknowledgementsIntroductionPART 1: MODELS OF MATERNAL DISTRESS AND DEPRESSIONMaternity and MadnessDistressing Events Occurring at or around the Time of ChildbirthPsychological Approaches to Distress and Depression Following ChildbirthSociological Explanations of the Origins of Postnatal Distress and DepressionPART 2: WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES AND INCIDENTS ASSOCIATED WITH DISTRESS AND DEPRESSION FOLLOWING CHILDBIRTHChildbirth as a Rite of Passage: The Myth of Madonna Motherhood and the Experience of Distress and Depression Motherhood, Loss and Distress Following ChildbirthWhen a Baby Dies Helping Women who become Distressed and/or Depressed following ChildbirthAppendix 1: Indicators of Success in Changing ChildbirthAppendix 2: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Inventory Appendix 3: Probable and Potential Interventions During Labour and Childbirth Appendix 4: Organisations which Offer Help to Mothers Experiencing Depression and Other Forms of Postnatal DistressIndex.