What is the impact of dissolutions of rituals connected to childbirth?

In many post modern societies rituals connected to pregnancy, childbirth and the immediate postpartum period are gradually fading away. Customs like neighbours helping out with bringing food and assistance to the household, partly isolation and rest for the new mother and the baby are being replaced by neighbours and relatives visiting and expecting to be served by the new mother having regained her strength and fitness soon after delivery. She is also expected to cope with all the various feelings that can occur in the new situation in life, as well as breastfeeding and managing the maternal role. In Southern Norway a study with the title “Video interaction guidance and postnatal depression; how does it interact with the course of depression and the mother-child interaction?” is taking place. The core data is derived from qualitative interviews and video interaction guidance offered to mothers with postnatal depression or depressive symptoms. The main objective of the study is to generate empirically based hypotheses about the connection between the video guidance method and the mental process the mothers are going through. In addition both the interview data and the video recorded data shed some light on the question in the heading. Together with a general view of papers concerning rituals connected to pregnancy, childbirth and the immediate postpartum period, these data will be presented on the congress.