Postpartum depression in Utah women

Diapers, crying, spitting up, waking up, and staying up… all part of being a new parent. Needless to say new parents may have turned a corner on the road of life that can feel like a dead end. Although parenting is never easy, add a good case of postpartum depression and you are likely to feel as though you may not make it out alive. Most women have heard of it, and many women fear it, but the ability of women to accept or realize that they have postpartum depression is another story.
According to the Utah Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health (IBIS-PH) double the amount of women reported having symptoms of postpartum depression than those who did not. In addition, only 61.2% compared to 38.8% reported seeking medical help for their depression. Those women who reported unintended pregnancies also reported double the amount of depression than those women who intended pregnancy. The facts may be startling, but the need for women to address and understand postpartum depression is imperative.
Untreated postpartum depression may be linked to loss of interest in life or children, may impact familial relationships, the performance of daily tasks, the ability of a mother to bond with her child, and the cognitive development of the baby. WebMD proivdes a checklist of postpartum symptoms that can help increase mothers awareness. Although, not intended to replace the professional help of a healthcare provider, those who report five or more of the following symptoms may need to seek further care. A list of symptoms can be found on the WebMD website. Postpartum depression is not the fault of the mother, and should not be a source of shame for those who suffer from it.