CDC Releases New Statistics on Postpartum Depression

Have you recently given birth? If so, or if you know someone who has, you may want to listen up. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recently issued its latest statistics on postpartum depression, and the figures reveal that certain groups of women may be at a higher risk. Could you be one? Keep reading to learn more about the new statistics and to see if you could be at risk.

Have you recently given birth? If so, or if you know someone who has, you may want to listen up. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recently issued its latest statistics on postpartum depression, and the figures reveal that certain groups of women may be at a higher risk.

Could you be one?

Keep reading to learn more about the new statistics and to see if you could be at risk.

The CDC’s Report

The report from the CDC included more than 52,000 new moms in 17 states.  These women had given birth within the past two to six months.  They were asked to complete a survey that included these questions:

• “Since your new baby was born, how often have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?”
• “Since your new baby was born, how often have you had little interest or little pleasure in doing things?” 

The answers available for these questions were never, rarely, sometimes, often or always.  The women who indicated that they often or always felt this way were considered to be self-reported sufferers of postpartum depression. 

The following groups of people reported postpartum depression more often:
• Teenage moms
• Mothers with less than 12 years of education
• Medicaid patients
• Smokers
• Victims of physical abuse before or during pregnancy
• Women under traumatic or financial stress during pregnancy
• Mothers having a low-birth-weight baby
• Mothers having a baby admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit

In the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, postpartum depression statistics do not separate women who became depressed after giving birth from women who were already depressed before pregnancy. 

What exactly is postpartum depression? 
Postpartum depression is a period of time of extreme vulnerability to depression shortly after giving birth.  There is a difference between postpartum depression and the postpartum “blues.”  The blues are a brief period where women will become tearful or very sensitive with severe mood swings.  This period usually only lasts until one to two weeks after giving birth. Many times, sleep is the problem.  Lack of sleep can cause many symptoms that are similar to the postpartum blues.  Postpartum blues occur in about 80% of women.

Postpartum depression, on the other hand, affects 12 to 15% of women.  Postpartum depression involves more significant symptoms of depression and lasts for weeks or months following the delivery.  New mothers’ hormones are changing rapidly, which sensitizes them to depression.  All of the psychological emotions involved in parenting a newborn, the physical strain of the birth and lack of sleep play a huge role. 

Very rarely does depression progress to where women become confused and disoriented, but it does happen.  And, these symptoms could lead to harming the baby, hallucinations or even suicide.  Suicide or infant homicides are the worst results of this disorder and can occur in a severe case of postpartum depression if not property identified and addressed.  If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

How can you prevent postpartum depression?
The following are some things that can help prevent or minimize the effects of postpartum blues or depression. 

• Therapy
• Alternative medicines, herbal remedies and dietary supplements
• Support groups
• Exercise
• Stress Management
• Sleep
• Spending time with others
• Making time for yourself
• Medication

While these things can help prevent or address postpartum depression, it is important that you contact your healthcare physician if any of the symptoms of postpartum depression last more than two weeks. 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that doctors screen all new moms for this condition for four to six weeks after birth. Treatment for postpartum depression is critical for the safety of the baby and of the mother.

If you are a new mom, hopefully the joy of your little one (or ones) overrides any depressive feelings you have. If not, just know that you are not alone and that help is available.