Postpartum Depression Screening

A postpartum depression screening is a standard set of questions you answer to help your health care provider find out whether you have depression related to having a baby. Postpartum means 'after birth.' Postpartum depression is a common but serious mood disorder. Though there is no clear cause for this condition, there are several factors that may increase your risk of getting it.

These include: Sudden changes in hormone levels that happen after pregnancy.; Lack of sleep.; Stress from new routines.; It differs from what are commonly called the 'baby blues.' With the baby blues, you may feel sad, weepy, or anxious starting about three days after childbirth. These feelings tend to come and go and usually get better on their own within a week or two. Postpartum depression, however, may: Last for months.; Cause more intense symptoms than the baby blues.; Affect how you think and behave.; Lead to feelings of extreme hopelessness and/or a lack of interest in the baby.; Not get better without treatment.; Symptoms of postpartum depression usually start between one to three weeks after birth.

However, they may begin at any time during the first year of parenthood. Because of this, your and/or your baby's provider may repeatedly screen you for postpartum depression throughout the first year of your baby's life. Doing so can help them detect signs of postpartum depression early, and so better treat it with medicine and/or talk therapy.

Why this test is done

Because anyone who has had a baby can develop postpartum depression, you'll likely be tested for it shortly after childbirth. However, if you have symptoms of postpartum depression before or after your routine checkup, contact your provider as soon as possible.

Symptoms of postpartum depression include:

• Feeling sad or empty most of the time.
• Eating too much or too little.
• Sleeping too much or too little.
• Crying more than usual or for no clear reason.
• Feeling more angry than usual.
• Pulling away from family and friends.
• Worrying or feeling anxious often.
• Not having any interest in your baby.
• Constant doubts about your ability to care for your baby.
• Thinking about hurting yourself or your baby.

If you have thoughts about suicide, or hurting yourself or your baby get help right away:

• Call 911 or go to your local emergency room.
• Contact a crisis hotline. In the United States, you can reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any time:
• Call or text 988
• Chat online with Lifeline Chat
• TTY users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988
• Veterans can contact the Veterans Crisis Line:
• Call 988, then press 1
• Text 838255
• Chat online
• Call your mental health provider or other provider.
• Reach out to a loved one or close friend.

Postpartum depression can happen after any childbirth. However, you may be more likely to develop this condition if you:

• Have had depression or bipolar disorder or a family health history that includes these conditions.
• Don't have support from family or friends.
• Had a multiple birth (twins, triplets, or more).
• Gave birth while in your teens.
• Had health problems during pregnancy.
• Went into preterm labor or had any other birth problems.
• Have a baby with special needs.
• Have ever experienced domestic violence.
• Experience financial difficulties.
• Had an unplanned pregnancy.

You may also be screened if you have depressive symptoms during pregnancy. This is called perinatal depression, and it has many of the same symptoms as depression after birth. If left untreated, it can:

• Increase the risk of your depressive symptoms lasting into the first weeks or months of parenthood.
• Make it harder to bond with your baby.
• Contribute to sleeping problems.
• Cause difficulties with breastfeeding.

Because of this, medical experts recommend that providers screen for depression during routine pregnancy checkups.

How to prepare

You usually don't need any special preparations for a postpartum depression screening.

Sample type

Blood

Other names for this test

postpartum depression assessment, EPDS test