Postpartum Depression is the most under recognized complication of pregnancy, with an incidence rate of 10-20%, which translates into an expected 14,000 to 22,000 cases in Georgia alone.  While there are validated screening tools available to identify those mothers who are dealing with more than the “Baby Blues,” New Jersey is the only state that currently mandates screening for postpartum depression.

Women diagnosed with postpartum depression, must have five of the following nine symptoms most of the day, nearly every day for at least two weeks:

• Depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most activities
• Significant change in weight or appetite
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Psychomotor retardation
• Loss of energy or fatigue
• Feeling of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Diminished ability to think/concentrate
• Recurrent thoughts of suicide