Search Results for: blog groups at risk for post partum depression

Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression Screening

Depression can affect just as many pregnant women as it does postpartum women, if not more. Fourteen to twenty-three percent of pregnant women suffer from depression while five to twenty-five percent of women will have postpartum depression. Typically your obstetrician and your pediatrician will give you a short questionnaire on multiple occasions after your baby is born that will screen for signs of postpartum depression. The questionnaire might contain statements like “I cry more than usual” and ask you to rate that statement on a scale of one to five. Postpartum depression is not something you should try to hide … Continue reading →

Identifying and Treating Postpartum Depression

Post partum depression is often underdiagnosed. New mothers don’t seek help for a variety of reasons or fail to notice the symptoms of PPD. Health care providers have limited contact and women often put on a brave face, which prevents diagnosis in some cases. Researchers in England may have discovered the key to better diagnosis for women. Studies conducted in England involved training health visitors to recognize the signs and symptoms of post partum depression. The study looked at over 4,000 new mothers in England. The mothers were identified by the health care visitors. The women were divided into two … Continue reading →

Post Partum Depression in Men?

Post partum depression has been getting more attention. This condition has generally been associated with mothers in the weeks and months after the baby is born. New medical evidence suggests this condition may not be confined to women. New fathers may suffer from post partum depression as well. A study conducted at The Center for Pediatric Research at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia suggests the problem may be even larger than initially thought. In this study, one in ten of the participants was found to have symptoms of severe post partum depression. Five thousand families participated in the … Continue reading →

Preterm Birth and Post Partum Depression

Post Partum Depression is a condition that affects many new mothers. It appears that mothers of preterm infants may be at increased risk of suffering depression after baby arrives. A study conducted at The State University of New York at Buffalo and published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology looked at the association between preterm birth, low birth weight and post partum depression. The study found the strongest correlation in baby’s born with low birth weight and post partum depression in their mothers. The additional stress caused by having a baby early combined with medical issues compound feelings … Continue reading →

New Survey Offers Startling Insight into the Postpartum Period

Most of us envision a blissfully happy time, cuddling our new bundles of joy after the long months of pregnancy. This happy picture is especially common if you have wanted a baby for a while. However, a new survey of women shortly after giving birth paints a very different picture of the days after the baby arrives. The survey was conducted by Childbirth Connection, an organization devoted to improving the quality of care during pregnancy. The survey was conducted twice, once about the child birth experiences of the women. The second was conducted six months later and looked at the … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Review for Feb 25 – March 14

The pregnancy blog covers all topics related to conception, pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum time after the baby arrives. The blog review is a good place to view the recently covered topics. You can also browse by category on the right side of the page. Gestational diabetes affects about five percent of all pregnant women. The glucose test done in the second trimester screens for this condition. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you will have to learn to manage the condition and monitor your blood sugar levels. Learn more in Managing Gestational Diabetes. If you have not … Continue reading →

Groups at Risk for Post Partum Depression

Certain groups of women may be at increased risk of developing post partum depression after the birth of their babies. Recent studies have shown a higher rate of post partum depression among African American and low income women. A study at the University of Iowa included over 4,000 women, all of whom had a baby in the previous four months. When race was compared, researchers found the incidence of post partum depression was higher among African American mothers compared to Caucasian mothers. The study found that Latina mothers had a lower rate of post partum depression than either African American … Continue reading →

Post Partum Depression: An Overview

Post-Partum Depression is a form of clinical depression that is triggered by the hormone changes associated with the childbirth process. Situational and life stresses can contribute to the risk of PPD. There are a few different “flavors” of PPD that vary from the mild to the very severe. Post Partum Blues: What It Is: Not a true clinical depression, Post Partum Blues is the result of the normal post-partum adjustment to the intense hormone shifts that occur after childbirth. Characteristically, the Blues hit 3-5 days after giving birth and resolve, on their own, within two weeks. Who Gets It: 80% … Continue reading →

Anxiety in Pregnancy

Anxiety disorders are common in women, both before and during pregnancy. Some women have anxiety disorders prior to becoming pregnant and others may experience symptoms for the first time during pregnancy. Changes in hormone levels combined with increased stress can contribute to developing anxiety disorders during pregnancy. Symptoms of an anxiety disorder include a general feeling of nervousness and panic attacks. During a panic attack, you may experience a racing heartbeat, lightheadedness, and have trouble breathing. The frequency and severity of panic attacks varies from woman to woman. In addition, some women experience unfounded fear or worry. The need for … Continue reading →

Is Natural Birth Better for Bonding?

Proponents of natural child birth have long maintained that giving birth naturally results in better bonding with baby compared to c section births. In fact, women choosing VBAC often cite this as one of the many reasons for making this choice. Mothers who have had a c section may disagree with these statements, but recent research is adding credibility to this long held belief. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine looked at bonding in mothers and babies with the method of birth. Women were divided into two groups for the study, one group having had vaginal deliveries and the other … Continue reading →