New Mothers and Postpartum Depression (general mental health)

Warning: I am going to get on a soapbox here because I am SO VERY PASSIONATE about this subject.

Screening for postpartum depression should be required practice by the delivering Ob-Gyn practice that delivers babies for every new mother.  It should be an included part of the “Well Mother and Baby” program that every insurance company and most Ob-Gyns are offer.
 
Let me tell you what amazes me about pregnant women and health care.  When you first get pregnant, the expectant Mom goes to the doctor for a blood test and (if positive) is usually sent to an Ob-Gyn for prenatal care. Prenatal care usually includes vitamins, ultrasounds, heat beat monitoring, protein screening, weight and belly size monitoring, Lamaze and parenting classes, etc.  Following the first Ob-Gyn appointment the schedule goes something like this:
 
During the first trimester, appointments are scheduled every six weeks.  During the second trimester, doctor appointments are scheduled every four weeks. During the third trimester, things really ramp up and appointments increase from every three weeks to every two weeks to every week.  If you are still pregnant past the due date, your doctor will probably want to see you everyday!  The closer you get to your delivery date, everyone around you doctors and staff become fixated on your comfort, health and well-being. 

Then, after the baby is born and everyone goes home from the hospital, doctors don’t want to see YOU anymore.  Doctors want to see the baby.  And, they want to see the baby on a very specific schedule.  The only time that doctors truly check on new mothers is roughly six weeks after the baby is born to make sure that your cervix is back where it is supposed to be and give you the OK for sex.

It is truly amazing to me. Prior to the baby being born, there is HUGE amount of attention given to expecting mother…and then…what? Something close to nothing as far as I can tell.  That alone is enough to take the wind out of a person’s sails, then compounded by the hormonal baby blues that are sure to follow.  Yeow! 

So, where is the intense and insistent short-term post natal care for the new mother?  How about making a little bit easier on expecting mothers and new mothers by including counseling/coaching as part of the prenatal and postnatal well baby program?  How about making sure that doctors are truly checking on the mental well being of the mother and not just the physical well being?  How about a “how to spot PPD” class for expecting fathers?

I believe that all new mothers need proactive mental health care.  The delivery of a woman’s baby results in huge physical, hormonal and emotional changes…let’s stop insinuating that all new mothers should be able to gauge their mental well being and reach out for help if they need it.  Postnatal mental well being programs should be offered, encouraged and promoted by the Ob-Gyns, Pediatricians, pregnancy & mother magazines, churches, schools and in mainstream media.

I suggest that all expecting mothers should be introduced to and spend some time with a mental health counselor before their babies are due.  Just 15 minutes before or after your doctor’s visit (lord knows that I spent more time in my Ob-Gyn’s waiting room than I did with him)!  If counselors/coach are able to developing comfort and rapport with expecting mothers beforehand, then - after the baby is born –  if the blues (or even new motherhood) become overwhelming for Mom and family…someone in the house will know who they can call for help.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject!

Be Well  – Expecting Executive _uacct = “UA-2020407-1″; urchinTracker();