Postpartum Depression in Alaska

Alaska

Postpartum depression occurs following pregnancy and delivery. It is one of the most common medical complications during the six months following childbirth and is associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and child. 

Postpartum depressive symptoms include feeling sad, pessimistic or angry, crying frequently, having difficulty sleeping, feeling disconnected from the baby and worrying about hurting the baby. A history of depression, anxiety or mood disorders is the biggest risk factor for postpartum depression. Other risk factors include stressful or traumatic life events during pregnancy, traumatic birth experiences and negative early breastfeeding experiences.

Maternal depression symptoms can affect early infant development and lead to long-term problems for the child, such as impaired cognitive and language development, behavioral issues and poor sleep quality.

The prevalence of postpartum depression is higher among:

• American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander and Black women compared with non-Hispanic white and Hispanic women.
• Women under 24 compared with older women.
• Women with lower educational attainment compared with those with higher levels of education. 
• Unmarried women compared with married women.
• Women who smoke during the peripartum or postpartum period.
• Women who give birth to low birth weight infants and infants requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission.
• Women who experience three or more stressful life events in the year before birth compared with those with less stress.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that providers screen for postpartum depression and anxiety as part of the comprehensive postpartum visit. Screening for postpartum depression has been found to be cost-effective. 

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that providers refer pregnant and postpartum persons at increased risk of perinatal depression to counseling interventions. Studies have found that postpartum depression may be prevented through supportive and psychological care following childbirth, including home visits, peer support and interpersonal therapy. Examples of evidence-based programs include the Mothers and Babies Program and Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for mothers of newborns.

Treatment for postpartum depression can also include antidepressants. In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first treatment specifically for postpartum depression, an intravenous injection. In August of 2023, they approved the first oral medication for treating postpartum depression.

Healthy People 2030 has an objective to increase the proportion of women who are screened for postpartum depression at their postpartum checkups.

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