A new study finds that 1 in 7 moms experience post-partum depression, many of whom are not identified with traditional screening. Being a new mom is a tough job. If you aren’t feeling what you think you think you should toward your baby, yourself, or your life, don’t hide it. Talk to your doctor or a counselor. Seeking help doesn’t mean you’re crazy or a bad mom. Transitions to new states in life are always difficult–especially transitions that involve wildly fluctuating hormonal states. It’s the good mom who recognizes that she shouldn’t have to do it all alone and gets the help she needs to make the transition as smooth as possible. Even Jesus allowed Simon of Cyrene to help him. Let us, or another counselor you trust, be your Simon.
And if you’re pregnant or post-partum, even if you don’t think you’re depressed, take a brief depression test to make sure that you and your baby will be as healthy as possible. Check out this study…
A surprisingly high number of women (fully 1 in 7) have symptoms of postpartum depression, according to a new study by a Northwestern Medicine researcher. The study included a depression screening of 10,000 women and a full psychiatric assessment of the women who screened positive for depression.
“In the U.S., the vast majority of postpartum women with depression are not identified or treated, even though they are at higher risk for psychiatric disorders,” said Dr. Katherine Wisner, director of Northwestern’s Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depressive Disorders.
“It’s a huge public health problem. A woman’s mental health has a profound effect on fetal development, as well as her child’s physical and emotional development.”
A lot of women do not understand what is happening to them, according to Wisner.
“They think they’re just stressed or they believe it is how having a baby is supposed to feel,” she said.
In the study, 14 percent of the women screened positive for depression.