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Vermont Value:
Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing depressive symptoms
Additional Measures:
Appears In:
Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing depressive symptoms
US Value: 12.7%
Top State(s): Vermont: 8.7%
Bottom State(s): Idaho: 25.4%
Definition: Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing depressive symptoms
Data Source and Years(s): CDC, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System or state equivalent, 2021
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System or state equivalent, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
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:
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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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.
Watkins, Stephanie, Samantha Meltzer-Brody, Denniz Zolnoun, and Alison Stuebe. “Early Breastfeeding Experiences and Postpartum Depression.” Obstetrics & Gynecology 118, no. 2 (August 2011): 214–21. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182260a2d.
Wilkinson, Andra, Seri Anderson, and Stephanie B. Wheeler. “Screening for and Treating Postpartum Depression and Psychosis: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.” Maternal and Child Health Journal 21, no. 4 (April 2017): 903–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2192-9.
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