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Washington Value:
Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing anxiety symptoms
Washington Rank:
Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing anxiety symptoms
12.8% - 17.8%
17.9% - 19.7%
19.8% - 22.9%
23.0% - 24.8%
24.9% - 31.6%
No Data
US Value: 20.3 %
Top State(s): Louisiana: 12.8 %
Bottom State(s): Mississippi: 31.6 %
Definition: Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing anxiety symptoms
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. DHHS, CDC, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) via Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Federally Available Data (FAD) Resource Document, 2023
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. DHHS, CDC, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) via Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Federally Available Data (FAD) Resource Document, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Postpartum anxiety occurs when people who have recently become parents experience irrational fears or excessive concerns that are difficult to control. Postpartum anxiety has many physical and emotional symptoms, including:
Postpartum anxiety can be caused by many things, such as sleep deprivation, stressful events and rapid changes in hormones following pregnancy. Additional risk factors include the previous loss of a child, a history of depression and anxiety and lack of a supporting partner or support system.
When detected, postpartum anxiety can be treated. The United States Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF) recommends screening for anxiety disorders in pregnant and postpartum adults. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also recommends that providers screen for postpartum depression and anxiety as part of a comprehensive postpartum visit.
Treatment options for postpartum anxiety can include lifestyle changes such as joining a support group, staying active and eating a nutritious diet, as well as talking to a therapist. Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also be prescribed to treat postpartum anxiety.
Stuebe, Alison, Tamika Auguste, and Martha Gulati. “ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing Postpartum Care.” Obstetrics & Gynecology 131, no. 5 (May 2018): e140–50. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002633.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
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