Improving Maternal Postpartum Depression Screening

After having a baby, many women experience a wide variety of physical, emotional and behavioral changes. It is not uncommon for new mothers to experience what is called the “postpartum blues” for the weeks following childbirth. However, around 10% of all women experience a more serious condition known as postpartum depression. 

Listen to pediatric experts discuss maternal postpartum depression

In this episode, Natasha Dilwali, MD, and Kate Schertz, MD, join us to discuss the role of pediatricians in improving the care of mothers with postpartum depression. Drs. Schertz and Diwali are PGY3 residents at Weill Cornell Medical Center.

In this episode, our experts discuss:

• How to set up a quality improvement project to improve screening rates
• Resident education and postpartum screening workflow
• Utilizing available mental health resources to change the clinic culture
• How to address positive postpartum screens
• Cultural barriers and incorporating screens in different languages

Supporting women during pregnancy and early parenting

The Healthy Expectations Perinatal Mental Health Program at Children's Hospital Colorado supports pregnant women and women struggling with mood and anxiety issues after delivery, as well as their families. We provide evaluations for psychiatric and psychosocial concerns in the perinatal period along with group therapy and medication management.