A critical review of the experiences of borderline personality disorder in the perinatal period

Women with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are a vulnerable group. To understand the experiences of mothers with BPD this critical review of the literature considers the evidence surrounding BPD in the perinatal period. How the presence of BPD impacts on obstetric and neonatal outcomes, on motherhood and on motherinfant interactions are explored. As are the personal histories of mothers with BPD, their experiences of healthcare, and their engagement in interventions such as DBT. The mechanism by which maternal BPD affects poor obstetric and neonatal outcomes remains unclear. Maternal BPD has been associated with challenges in mother-infant interaction, potentially affecting child wellbeing. The literature suggests acceptability of therapeutic interventions for perinatal BPD. There remains, however, limited research exploring the experiences of mothers with BPD during the perinatal period and when in receipt of maternity care.