Can Providers Education about Postpartum Depression...

Can providers’ education about postpartum depression (PPD) increase the acceptance level of pediatrics medical providers to screen mothers for PPD in a primary care setting? Postpartum depression (PPD) is a range of depressive symptoms that women may experience after giving birth. It’s onset within the first month after birth. Many studies define the â€Å"postpartum period† at a minimum of 3 months up to a year after childbirth (Chaudron, Szilagyi, Campbell, Mounts, McInerny, 2007). Symptoms range in severity and the timing post childbirth, peaking at about six weeks after delivery for major depression and two to three months for minor depression. Women can experience another peak of depressive symptoms 6 months after birth (Earls,†¦show more content†¦Infants can ultimately have developmental delay. Postpartum depression has long term effects on children of depressed mothers. The impact can extend up to puberty. Children will experience feelings of i nsecurity, poor social skills, reduce verbal and cognitive skills (Earls, 2010). Children will end up with more behavioral problems, conduct disorders, depression and anxiety. Timely identification and management of maternal depression is important for the child’s early brain development and school readiness. The negative effects of the long term exposure to maternal depressive symptoms in early childhood is concerning. Early intervention will help both the mother and the child (Horwitz, Briggs-Gowan, Storfer-Isser, Carter, 2009). In the United States, women after childbirth will typically have one postpartum visit with their obstetrician at six weeks while new mothers will see the baby’s pediatrician at least 4-6 times during the first year at the well baby visits. These are good opportunities for the detection of PPD. Mothers may be reluctant to share their feeling with family members or the medical providers secondary to fears of being seen as a â€Å"bad† mother, or being labeled as having a psychiatric problem. Pediatricians have a unique potential to intervene (Horwitz et al., 2007). The US