Postpartum depression is more likely to occur in women with unplanned pregnancies. according to a new study. Results showed that women with unintended or unplanned pregnancies were four times more likely to develop symptoms of postpartum depression at one year postpartum.
The study comes from the University of North Carolina, where its prenatal clinics questioned pregnant participants. At 15-19 weeks gestation, the women were questioned about their pregnancy intention. The women's pregnancies were then classified into groups of intended, mistimed or unwanted.
Overall, there were 433 women with intended pregnancies, 207 with mistimed pregnancies and 40 with unwanted pregnancies. Unintended or unplanned pregnancy was defined as both pregnancies that were mistimed and unwanted. At three months, data was analyzed for 688 women and at 12 months, for 550 women.
Data from the results showed that at both three and 12 months, postpartum depression was more likely in women with unplanned pregnancies. The rate was 11 percent at three months among women with unplanned pregnancies and 12 percent at 12 months. Compared to women with intended pregnancies, the total was 5 percent at three months and 3 percent at 12 months. Women were also twice as likely to suffer from postpartum depression as the result of an uintended pregnancy when age, education level and poverty status were factored into the results.
"While many elements may contribute to postpartum depression, the results of this study show that unintended pregnancy resulting in live birth could also be a contributing factor," Dr. Rebecca Mercier said in a news release.
The authors of the study conclude that unplanned pregnancy may have a longterm effect on the mother's well-being and that doctors could consider pregnancy intention to offer support during and post-pregnancy.
"Unintended pregnancy carried to term may have a long term effect on women. Simple, low-cost screening interventions to identify women at risk could allow targeted intervention when appropriate and could potentially prevent complications from future unintended pregnancies," Mercier said. Results of the study were published in An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
