Trinity researchers have found that one in seven first time mothers in Ireland suffer from symptoms of moderate to severe depression in the first year following pregnancy.
The Maternal health and Maternal Morbidity in Ireland (MAMMI) study, published in the journal Archives of Women’s Mental Health, followed the prevalence and changes over time in depression, anxiety and stress symptoms experienced by first time mothers in the first postpartum year.
The study’s release coincides with Maternal Mental Health Week, which takes place this week.
Previous research has focused on depression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period up to six weeks, however, there has been little investigation of the prevalence and pathways of depression, anxiety and stress in the longer term following pregnancy.
The study found that one in 10 women reported symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety, one in seven reported moderate to severe depression symptoms and one in five reported moderate to severe stress symptoms, in the first year after having their first baby.
Depression and stress symptoms were found to be at the lowest during pregnancy but increased three months after birth and peaked at six months after. These symptoms were found to drop slightly after nine months, but increased again at one year after giving birth.
The study also found that young women, born in a non-EU country, who did not live with a partner, did not have a postgraduate education or were unemployed during the pregnancy were most likely to report symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.
Independent of these factors, women who reported frequent symptoms in the year before their pregnancy were more likely to experience depressive, anxiety or stress symptoms in the first year postpartum.
The study found that around 70 per cent of women who reported having symptoms of depression or anxiety in the postpartum year did not report any of these symptoms during pregnancy.
In a media release, PhD candidate at the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the senior author of the MAMMI study Susan Hannon said: “At the moment, maternal healthcare stops at 6-weeks postpartum. But our research shows that a substantial number of women are experiencing clinical-level symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress well beyond this period of service provision.”
“We hope that this research lets women know that they are not alone, that they too can have these conversations about mental health and motherhood, with family and friends, to lift the silence and share their experience.”
“Talking with healthcare professionals will help women get the support that they need”, she added.
Déirdre Daly, Associate Professor in Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery and co-author, said: “Everytime we see findings like this, we have to think about all of the women who shared their information with us – many of these women are suffering – unnecessarily and often in silence.”
