Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders at Alexian Brothers Women's Services
Risk Factors
- Postpartum depression/anxiety after previous birth
- Depression/anxiety in pregnancy
- Family psychiatric history
- Family history of postpartum mood disorders
- Personal history of depression/anxiety unrelated to pregnancy
- Personal or family history of thyroid illness
- Being raised in an alcoholic or dysfunctional family
- Separation from parent during childhood due to death/divorce
- Physical or sexual abuse as a child
- Marital discord
- Isolation from family/friends
- Ambivalence toward maternal role
- Unwanted pregnancy
- Difficult labor (real or perceived by mother)
- Complicated birth - ie. Hemorrhage or birth experience that failed to fulfill expectations
- Unsupported labor (even if 5 people are in the room "watching")
- Delivery of preemie, or compromised baby
- Perinatal death
- Recent death in the family
- Women having their first baby after she is 30 years old
- History of Bipolar illness
- History of drug abuse
Risk Factors For Developing Depression During Pregnancy
- History of major depression
- History of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Inadequate social support, especially from absence of partner or conflict with partner
- Current stress
- Bereavement, especially parental loss
- Previous stillbirth
