Importance Of Health Care & Family Support During Postpartum Depression

Untreated postpartum depression (PPD) can negatively affect the individual’s health. If not properly treated, the condition may lead to chronic depressive disorder or other mental disorders. PPD not only affects the person’s health but also has an impact on the children and the whole family.

How can families provide support during the postpartum period?

Families offer social support that safeguards parental mental health, child health, and the well-being of the whole family. Everyone—from partners to grandparents, siblings, and mothers-in-law—can share baby care tasks so parents can catch up on much-needed sleep. Keeping communication open also allows parents to voice their own needs and avoid low social support situations that are linked to higher distress in women. Families can provide support in the postpartum period in several ways, including the following:

• Provide help with childcare, either for the newborn or other children in the family, to create extra time for sleep and self-care.

• Offer emotional support by listening without judgment and regularly checking in to let them know that social support is always available and that professional help is an option if symptoms worsen.

• Offer companionship and opportunities to build social relationships through relaxing activities, such as watching a movie or going for a walk, since shared activities help keep communication open.

• Prepare meals or have them delivered to help alleviate some of the burden on postpartum women, parents, and supportive mothers-in-law.

• Help with household chores like grocery shopping, washing the dishes, or doing laundry.

• Encourage self-care by offering to sit with the new baby while the parents shower, take a nap, read a book, enjoy hobbies, or exercise, and remind them that meeting their own needs is part of taking care of the whole family.
  
  

The needs of postpartum women and parents will vary depending on their state of mind and what other support they have. If you are unsure of the best way to provide support, let them know that you are there for them and ask them what they need.

How to help someone with postpartum depression?

Treating postnatal depression typically involves medication and talk therapy, like interpersonal psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. However, friends and family can also offer important social support, including help from mothers-in-law, which may reduce certain risk factors. Community support and perceived social support can play a key role in recovery. Helping with sleep, keeping communication open, and encouraging professional help can all support the person's mental health.

What is the role of family in postpartum depression?

Research has found that family can play a significant role in helping women cope after childbirth and possibly in reducing postpartum depressive symptoms. 

• A 2024 systematic review determined that mothers who receive high social support from their families have a lower risk of depression.​

• A 2022 Chinese study examined the role of support from the husband and mother-in-law on the mental health of postpartum women. Slightly more than half of the eligible participants who met the inclusion criteria were first-time Chinese mothers. Written informed consent was obtained when the study participants registered before delivery. Study findings suggest that improving the interpersonal relationships between new mothers and their husbands or mothers-in-law and enhancing social support may reduce postpartum depressive symptoms and improve sleep.

• Data analysis in a 2020 longitudinal study into PPD in Nigeria determined that having an unsupportive partner made it three times more likely that a mother would develop PPD.

• Previous studies have determined that support and care in the marital relationship, perceived social support, and other psychosocial factors can help reduce depression during postpartum recovery, but one study found that family members can observe many signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. While further research is needed, these results indicate that family members can be an effective part of screening for PPD.

• The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), including the mainland Chinese version, has been widely used for the psychometric evaluation of postpartum depression. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the scale indicates high reliability in assessing the mental health of postpartum women.​

Enhancing relationships within the family unit plays an important role in supporting women's mental health after childbirth, contributing positively to both child health and maternal sleep quality.​

Who helps with postpartum depression?

The Centers for Disease Control recommends mental health screenings throughout the perinatal period, from the beginning of pregnancy until about one year after giving birth. Medical professionals usually complete these screenings at postpartum health appointments and infant well visits. 

Early screenings can help identify antenatal depression and other risk factors for various pregnancy-related mood disorders, including PPD, postpartum blues, and postpartum psychosis. For example, because depressed pregnant women are at increased risk for PPD, identifying depression during pregnancy can help women and their doctors ensure that the right supports are in place throughout the remainder of the pregnancy and after birth. 

Many people can help support parents with PPD, including doctors, therapists, nurses, family members, and support groups. Notably, mothers-in-law and new fathers can provide social support, which has been shown to alleviate symptoms of PPD.

Effective treatment for PPD often involves a combination of approaches. Counseling or medication can be essential. Additionally, addressing factors like sleep deprivation is important, as poor sleep can exacerbate depressive symptoms.

A recent review highlighted that women with higher scores on depression screening tools are more likely to benefit from early intervention and comprehensive support systems, including community support initiatives that connect new mothers with resources and peer networks. 

How does postpartum depression affect relationships?

PPD can have significant effects on relationships, particularly between partners, as it can lead to decreased intimacy, withdrawal, and poor communication. It may also impact how women cope with daily responsibilities, such as taking care of their newborn, which can increase tension within the household.

The bond between the mother and the infant can also be affected by maternal depression in the postpartum period. Disrupted sleep patterns, often experienced by mothers, fathers, mothers-in-law, and other family members, can further complicate the situation and influence overall child health. One literature review and meta-analysis found that “postpartum depression creates an environment that is not conducive to the personal development of mothers or the optimal development of a child.” Other research has found there may be a causal relationship between PPD and low relationship quality, and that the detrimental consequences of this mental health condition can affect mother-child relationships beyond adolescence.

What is the postpartum family plan?

The World Health Organization offers guidance on family planning in the postpartum period through the WHO Postpartum Family Planning Compendium. This guidance is integrated into broader maternal-child health initiatives to ensure comprehensive care. The idea is that educating about family planning in the postpartum period can help avoid short-spaced births, which can lead to adverse outcomes for both mother and child, including impacts on mental health and sleep patterns. Addressing these issues is a public health priority, as it supports the overall well-being of postpartum women. 

Moreover, involving family members, such as mothers-in-law, in educational efforts can enhance social support systems, which are often crucial for implementing family planning strategies. Providing appropriate treatment and counseling during this period may empower mothers to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

How can you support a postpartum mom?

There are many ways to improve support availability for postpartum women. Some ideas include bringing the new parents food or prepared meals, or watching the newborn while the mother pumps breast milk, showers, gets sleep, or takes time for herself. Friends, mothers-in-law, and other family members can also offer emotional and mental health support by checking in occasionally and offering them a nonjudgmental ear.

If you suspect that a new parent is having mental health problems, encourage them to get help. Treatment for women who are diagnosed with PPD generally includes psychotherapy and medication. While community support plays a key role in recovery, few studies have explored the specific impact of informal networks like extended family and mothers-in-law in supporting postpartum women.

What four things does a mom need during the postnatal period?

Many things can support women’s mental health during the postpartum period. Four that are beneficial include eating a nutrient-rich diet, getting as much sleep as possible, taking care of her body after childbirth, and receiving emotional and social support. In some cases, approaches like interpersonal psychotherapy can also help improve emotional well-being.

Why is postpartum support after pregnancy important?

Postpartum support can help new parents adjust to having a newborn while caring for their own needs and maintaining their mental health.

A randomized controlled trial from 2013 that focused on Black and Latina mothers determined that a behavioral educational intervention during the postpartum hospital stay was more effective at reducing positive depression screens in this patient population than enhanced usual care. This intervention prepared and educated postpartum women about the modifiable factors that are associated with symptoms of postpartum depression, strengthened social support, and increased access to resources. Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, researchers determined that behavioral educational intervention reduced positive depression screens among Black and Latina postpartum mothers.

A qualitative study conducted in China highlighted the significant role of mothers-in-law in providing social support during the postpartum period. The study found that positive relationships with mothers-in-law help to better mental health outcomes for postpartum women.

Additionally, a Chinese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was utilized in a study to assess postpartum depression among Chinese women. The study reported a Cronbach's alpha of 0.87, indicating high internal consistency of the scale. The researchers employed descriptive statistics to analyze the data, providing insight into the prevalence and factors associated with postpartum depression in the studied population.