Dignity Health Expert Available to Discuss New Study that Suggests All Women be Screened for Postpartum Depression after Birth
Missy Beauchamp, RN, and community education coordinator, for Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, is available to discuss a new study that suggests all women should be screened for postpartum depression after giving birth. The study, performed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, cites that women with postpartum depression are not getting the care they need, either because they have not been screened or are not screened often enough. As a result, the researchers suggest that women should be screened several times throughout the year after giving birth. In addition to the study, Beauchamp can speak about the signs, symptoms and treatment of the condition.
“Postpartum depression affects approximately 3 million women each year and it’s important for clinicians to closely monitor their patients up to a year after giving birth to determine if a patient is showing signs of postpartum depression,” says Beauchamp. “Many news moms are scared of reaching out for help or they don’t know they’re struggling with a condition that can be treated. We want to be able to help them.”
Approximately 80 percent of women experience some level of “baby blues” after giving birth and 14.5 percent experience new episodes of longer-term depression. Postpartum depression typically starts within the first month after childbirth though it can appear any time in the first year.
Dignity Health offers a pregnancy and postpartum support group that meets weekly in Gilbert. The support group, offered for pregnant and new mothers who are experiencing anxiety, depression or adjustment challenges, learn coping mechanisms and how to ask for help.
Please call (602) 406-3319 to schedule interviews with Beauchamp. Due to the sensitivity of the topic and privacy policies, media will not be permitted to cover the support group sessions. Read more about the study.
Publish date:
Tuesday, January 01, 2013