Pediatric health care providers are playing an expanded role in screening new mothers for postpartum depression — a move experts believe could significantly impact the physical and mental well-being of infants.
“The goal is to identify mothers who have or are at-risk for postpartum depression and connect them to community mental health providers and resources,” says Dr. Marian Earls, director of pediatric programs at Community Care of North Carolina in Raleigh and author of an American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report on the subject.
Screening for postpartum depression in pediatric settings is gaining national attention as an increasing volume of research underscores the importance of healthy mother-baby relationships to an infant’s brain development. AAP recommends universal surveillance and screening of postpartum depression by pediatric care providers, and national health care quality measures now include maternal depression screening. More private and public health insurers are covering maternal screenings for depression, as well.
Yet despite these gains, postpartum depression remains one of the most undiagnosed conditions among women who have recently given birth.
“There has been progress, but it’s still not the norm for pediatricians to screen for postpartum depression,” says Dr. Catherine Wiley, medical director of the primary care clinic at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford.
Beyond the Baby Blues
Ten to 20 percent of the approximately 4 million women who give birth each year in the U.S. experience postpartum depression that can interfere with early parenting, according to the International Journal of Mental Health Promotion. Yet research shows that fewer than half of all affected mothers receive a mental health diagnosis, and only 15 percent of those who do receive a diagnosis seek mental health services.
“Many new mothers struggle with postpartum depression, yet few women receive the support and treatment they need to get better so they can provide a nurturing environment for their children,” says Lisa Honigfeld, vice president for health initiatives at the Child Health and Development Institute in Farmington, Connecticut.
Postpartum depression differs from the ” baby blues,” which many women experience shortly after giving birth. “It’s not uncommon for women to be tearful or a little anxious the first couple of weeks,” Earls says. “The important thing is to support and monitor moms so they do not experience impaired function.”
Toxic Stress Hurts Brain Development
But unlike the transient baby blues, postpartum depression that goes untreated can impede an infant’s cognitive, social, physical and emotional development.
“There has been an explosion of research in recent years about the impact of maternal depression on early brain development,” Earls says. Some research shows that the absence of a healthy mother-baby relationship can impact brain formation and growth.
“Maternal depression can be a form of toxic stress for an infant,” says Wiley, whose clinic routinely screens for postpartum depression using a simple tool known as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Women who score positive for postpartum depression see an on-site social worker who connects them to community mental health resources.
Like many advocates, Wiley believes pediatric settings provide the “perfect opportunity” to identify and assist mothers who may not realize they are struggling with postpartum depression. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends screening for postpartum depression at a woman’s postpartum visit six weeks after birth. But many women, especially those with limited incomes, skip their postpartum visit, Wiley says.
In contrast, new mothers visit the pediatrician’s office numerous times during their baby’s first six months of life. “We know there are several peak times when postpartum depression is likely to appear — at six weeks, two to three months and six months of age. We’re seeing women during those peak times,” Wiley says.
Wiley is among a growing number of Connecticut pediatric care providers who are routinely screening for postpartum depression. Screening rates in the state nearly tripled in the past year thanks to stepped up financial and training efforts. In 2013, Medicaid approved reimbursement for pediatric providers to screen mothers as part of well-child visits and commercial insurers followed their lead. Meantime, CHDI has provided free training to 136 pediatric health providers to address postpartum depression. The state also has an extensive network of public and private mental health services.
Connecticut’s success underscores the need for states to build an infrastructure that supports pediatric care providers who want to screen new mothers for postpartum depression, Hongifeld says. “There’s more to it than just passing legislation,” she says. Most importantly, pediatric care providers need access to a network of resources they can refer women to before they begin screening for postpartum depression.
Fighting the stigma
In most cases, mothers appreciate being asked about postpartum depression even if they don’t have symptoms, Earls says. “Screening reflects the caring that a pediatric care provider has for the child and the family,” she says.
Earls would like to see discussions about postpartum depression become a routine part of prenatal visits so women aren’t surprised if symptoms appear. “We need to demystify postpartum depression to let women know it’s not their fault,” she says.
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How Pediatricians are Helping Moms With Postpartum Depression originally appeared on usnews.com
