The global pandemic created by COVID-19 has had significant impacts on pregnant, birthing and postpartum families. Isolation, lack of social support, financial challenges and health concerns all contribute to the stress that expectant families are experiencing. Many typical support groups, like childbirth classes and postpartum support groups, along with prenatal care visits with health care providers, have switched to virtual offerings, which further limits in-person connection. These unusually isolating and stressful circumstances can and are impacting mental health during and after pregnancy.
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), which are mood disorders like depression, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis during pregnancy and after birth (postpartum), are the most common complications of pregnancy. PMADs impact one in five pregnant people and one out of seven postpartum people. And many people are not aware that 1 in 10 partners are also affected, and more likely to be impacted if the birthing person is also struggling. Concerns surrounding COVID-19 have the potential to increase and worsen the severity of PMADs.
As a Lamaze childbirth educator, I have always provided my students with a copy of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), which is an evidence-based and simple method of screening for PMADs. With teaching virtual classes, I was delighted to find a straightforward and easy online screening tool that families can access from anywhere at anytime.
Perinatology.com website has a one-page online calculator of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale that you can complete and have your “score” calculated to determine if you need further assessment. I encourage you to conduct this three-minute screening weekly throughout your pregnancy and the postpartum period. Doing so will help you identify, in a timely manner, whether you could benefit from professional support.
It's important to have helpful local resources at hand during pregnancy and after birth, including therapists, counselors, and physicians, along with peer-to-peer support groups for connection. Your health care provider as well as local doulas and childbirth educators can help you locate these invaluable resources.
Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE has been an active perinatal professional since 2004, teaching Lamaze classes to thousands of families and doula-ing through her private practice in Seattle, WA. Sharon is also a trainer of new birth doulas and childbirth educators. She blogs professionally on perinatal topics. Sharon enjoys facilitating discussion around best practice, current research and its practical application to maternal infant health and community standards. To learn more about Sharon, you are invited to visit her website, SharonMuza.com.
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Postpartum depression Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders PMADs Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Tool