Up to 20 percent of all pregnant women and new moms will develop a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (PMADs) that requires treatment. These include postpartum depression or anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, bipolar and postpartum psychosis.

PMADs affects 15-20 percent of all pregnant women and new mothers. Over 1 million women will suffer from it in one year. 

Maternal Mental Health inequities disproportionately burden people of color and those with low incomes.

Women of low socioeconomic status. Including income, marital status, employment, and educational level are 11 times more likely to develop postpartum depression symptoms than women of higher socioeconomic status.

More than 50% of infants in low income households live with a mother experiencing some form of depression. 

New Mothers of color have a rate of postpartum depression close to 38%, almost twice the rate of white new mothers.

Nearly 60% of Black and Latina mothers do not receive any treatment or support services for prenatal or postpartum emotional complications. 

Reasons include lack of insurance coverage, social and cultural stigma related to mental health needs, logistical barriers to services, and lack of culturally appropriate care.

Nearly 30% of American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) mothers experience postpartum depression. One study found that PPD in the AI/AN communities is correlated to stressful life events such as financial and housing instability. 

PPD is 40% greater in Latina mothers and 80% greater in Black mothers living in small cities and rural communities compared to their white counterparts. 

• Roughly 1 in 5 women are not asked about depression during prenatal visits despite universal screening being recommended

• Up to 50% of women living in poverty will suffer from a maternal mental health disorder.,  

• #MaternalMentalHealth disorders like postpartum depression are the #1 complication of childbirth. 

• 34% of new mothers report experiencing a traumatic childbirth. 

• Up to fifteen percent (15%) of women will develop anxiety during pregnancy or after childbirth.

• 70-100% of women (and their partners) have “intrusive” thoughts surrounding childbirth/the postpartum period.

-Baby Blues

-Perinatal Depression 

-Perinatal Anxiety and OCD

-Perinatal PTSD

-Perinatal Bipolar Disorder

-Perinatal Psychosis 

• BIOLOGICAL

• PSYCHOLOGICAL

• SOCIAL

• Personal or family history of mental illness.

• Perinatal mood symptoms or previous PMADs

• Infertility 

• Medical Problems such as Thyroid Disruption or Diabetes

• Abrupt weaning with breastfeeding 

• Low self-esteem

• Perfectionist

• Unplanned/Unwanted pregnancy

• History of trauma or abuse

• Unresolved grief over abortion or miscarriage

• Negative relationship with own Mother

• Weight related postpartum

• Young age/ young Mother/ teenage Mother 

• Baby in the NICU

• Lack of support and/or geographical isolation

• Relationship stress

• Life stresses: Recent move, loss, death

• Economic stress

• Complicated pregnancy or birth

• Separation from baby

• Difficult baby temperament (Fuzzy Baby)