Everyone occasionally feels a little down. More serious is depression, a clinically diagnosable condition that can be tied to a particular circumstance or might be an ongoing chronic disorder.
Examples of “bad” circumstances that could lead to depression are losing a job or the death of a loved one. A “good” circumstance that’s a common trigger of depression is pregnancy and childbirth.
Maternal depression is one of the most common complications of pregnancy. Twenty percent of women experience some form of depression during or after pregnancy, yet most are ashamed to discuss this with their healthcare providers and family.
Perinatal (during pregnancy) and postpartum (after childbirth) depression affects the well-being of both mother and baby. A woman with perinatal depression may have extreme worries and fears, often over the health and safety of the baby.
Some women have panic attacks with shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, a feeling of losing control, and numbness and tingling. For more information, visit Postpartum Support International and review this pamphlet by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It’s important to remember that nobody chooses to have maternal depression, and it is not the fault of the mother. Being depressed during pregnancy or after delivering a baby does not mean she is a bad mother. Postpartum depression is a medical condition and can be successfully treated. See the Beyond the Blues website for more information.
Untreated depression affects the whole family, including the baby. Behavioral health (mental health) is covered by some health insurances. Medicaid pays for diagnosis, therapy and medication to treat depression.
For help finding insurance coverage for maternal depression, call Dallas County Public Health Navigation at 515-993-3750.
Ann Cochran is the health navigation coordinator in the Dallas County Department of Public Health.
