When one thinks about an expecting or new mother, idealized images of a smiling woman cradling her stomach or holding her newborn may come to mind. Unfortunately, for many women, the realities of pregnancy and postpartum are far more complex. For some, it is an unexpected and unsettling trigger for something serious and potentially quite dangerous.
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a public health crisis that has lived in the shadows of society despite being one of the most common medical complications associated with childbirth. It is estimated that about one in eight women in the U.S. experience symptoms of PPD, with the prevalence reported to be much higher among Black and brown women. PPD is more prevalent than preterm birth, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes, all of which are commonly screened for and treated urgently. Yet women with PPD often face societal stigma and barriers to treatment access.
PPD is not the “baby blues,” and the consequences, if left untreated, can be devastating. PPD can have a lasting generational impact, leading to the potential for delayed or impaired long-term developmental, psychological, cognitive, and physical outcomes in children. It is estimated that the types of outcomes associated with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders cost the system nearly $2 billion for all impacted children through the first five years of life. Suicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality and accounts for up to 20% of postpartum deaths. These staggering statistics speak to the urgency to treat maternal mental health conditions.
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