Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.
This paper is a systematic review of 74 English-language studies from 1995–2019 that looked at how postpartum stress, including depressive and anxiety symptoms in mothers, is linked to infant outcomes. The review found consistent associations between higher postpartum stress and worse infant growth, development, feeding, attachment and sleep. The authors…
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common problem after childbirth. Most studies find rates around 10%–15% in high-income countries, and rates can be much higher in poorer settings. Untreated PPD is linked with problems in mother–baby bonding and with worse child development. Screening in routine obstetric, pediatric, or primary care visits…
Maternity blues, also called baby blues, are short-lived mood changes after childbirth that can include tearfulness, irritability, anxiety, sleep and concentration problems. A recent review reports an overall prevalence of about 39% (studies ranged from 13.7% to 76%), but definitions and measurements vary widely. Symptoms usually start in the first…
Many people have mood or anxiety problems during pregnancy and in the year after birth. About a quarter of people develop a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, and these can include postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and, rarely, psychosis. These conditions are often not diagnosed, but studies and clinical guidance…
This review examines mental health problems that can happen after childbirth, called postpartum mood disorders. It explains the main types, how they are identified, the limits of current diagnosis, common treatments, and how culture and stigma can stop people from getting help. The authors urge more awareness, better support, and…
Many women have mood problems during pregnancy and after birth. In the U.S., about 1 in 8 women report postpartum depression symptoms (about 460,000 women a year), and some states report rates as high as 1 in 5. In Australia, up to 1 in 5 mothers report perinatal depression or…
Brexanolone (brand name ZULRESSO) is an FDA-approved drug for moderate-to-severe postpartum depression. In trials it reduced depressive symptoms quickly and had mostly mild side effects, but it is given by IV in a monitored inpatient setting because it can cause heavy sleepiness and even loss of consciousness. It is not…
This study combined results from 14 research papers to see whether mindfulness programs help adults with ADHD. The pooled data covered 834 adults and came from searches of PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS, and ERIC up to July 2019. Overall, the meta-analysis found that mindfulness-based interventions reduced ADHD symptoms, lowered depression, and…
A University of British Columbia review published in Birth found that anger often occurs alongside postnatal depression. The review says anger can be aimed at the self, the baby, or family members and can harm relationships. It links anger to feeling powerless, unmet expectations about motherhood, and lack of support.…
This review says postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and disabling problem that has been rising in many places. It summarizes known risk factors in social and economic life, childbirth history, lifestyle, and past mental illness. The paper also reviews biological and genetic work (the serotonin transporter gene, SERT, is…
This federal report says U.S. maternal and infant health need improvement and that Medicaid and CHIP are key places to make changes. It notes rising maternal deaths, large racial gaps, many preventable deaths, and high infant deaths compared with other rich countries. The report reviews measures (like low-risk cesarean rates,…
This study surveyed 278 Canadian mothers of healthy infants aged 6–12 months about sleep, mood, and anger. About 31% reported intense current anger, 26% had probable postpartum depression, and 52% said their sleep was poor. Statistical analysis found that mothers' own sleep quality and how angry they felt about their…
