A third of new moms during early COVID had postpartum depression
New research from the U-M School of Nursing found that depression in new mothers rose considerably during the pandemic. Before COVID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 1 in 8 women experienced postpartum depression, and about 5-7% experienced major depressive symptoms, says lead author Clayton Shuman, U-M assistant professor of nursing.
The study, “Postpartum depression and associated risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic” appears in BMC Research Notes. It comes from a larger study called “COVID-19 MAMAS (Maternal Attachment, Mood, Ability, and Support),” which gave rise to several papers about pregnancy and postpartum experiences during COVID.
This increase highlights the need to identify depressive symptoms in postpartum patients, but screening is only a first step, Shuman says.
“Treatment is pivotal to recovery,” he said. “Resources and education about postpartum depression must be better disseminated and implemented. These resources should be shared with the general public to reduce stigma, and shared with those who provide social and emotional support to postpartum patients, such as partners and family members.
More information:
- Full story from Michigan News: A third of new moms during early COVID had postpartum depression
- Study: Postpartum depression and associated risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic
