A women is more vulnerable to a psychiatric admission in the six weeks after she has a baby than at any other time in her life, a consultant psychiatrist has warned.

According to Dr Joanne Fenton at the Coombe Maternity Hospital in Dublin, perinatal depression is a common problem. Perinatal depression refers to depression during pregnancy and the time after the birth of the child.

She noted that up to 23% of women develop depression during pregnancy and postnatal depression ‘often has its onset in pregnancy'. In fact, over half of women who suffer from postnatal depression also had some sort of depression during pregnancy.

Risk factors can include if the pregnancy was unplanned, if the woman does not have a partner, if she has an infant with ill health and if she struggles with breastfeeding.

This can lead to general symptoms of depression, such as poor sleep, feelings of hopelessness and loss of appetite. However, Dr Fenton points outs that there are depressive symptoms that are unique to pregnancy. These are:
-Not looking forward to the baby
-Feelings of worthlessness and guilt in relation to being a parent
-Obsessive thoughts about harming the baby
-If feeling suicidal, a woman may feel that their baby is better off with another mother.

Dr Fenton said that in attempting to identify women with perinatal depression, ‘there needs to be a high index of suspicion' as pregnancy and giving birth ‘are major life events'.

She noted that untreated depression in pregnancy can lead to a range of problems, including a risk of complications, such as pre-eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure), substance abuse and impaired bonding with the child.

Dr Fenton said that screening for depression should occur at the time of a woman's booking visit (her first hospital appointment), at weeks 28-32 of the pregnancy and at the six-week check-up after the birth. It should also occur at the baby's immunisation visits.

"Early identification and treatment can minimise risks," she added.

Dr Fenton made her comments in the Irish journal, Forum: Clinical Focus.

For more information on depression, see our Depression Clinic here