Tied to the above postpartum depression theory, Bronfenbrenner's ecology theory states that
women with postpartum depression need to be evaluated within the context of the systems in which they operate.
First - time parents; Parents of multiples; Cesarean section birth / recovery; Families
with little local support;
Women who want to breastfeed; Families
with other young children;
Women at risk for or experiencing
postpartum depression & anxiety; Premature births / babies on apnea monitors;
Women who have experienced difficult deliveries; Babies
with colic or reflux;, Families
with high anxiety levels; Babies
with special
needs; New parents
with limited experience
with newborns;
Women who have been on bed rest throughout pregnancy; New parents
with no family nearby.
Trust me, it would be easier to sweep my experience
with postpartum depression & psychosis under the rug, but every time I share my story I see it spark a dialogue and give
women the courage to share their own struggles and seek help if they
need it.
Despite the significant impact of maternal
depression on mothers and children alike, maternal mental health
needs are often neglected or undiagnosed.18 Prevalence rates of maternal
depression are high among low - income
women due to the greater challenges they may face related to financial hardships, low levels of community or familial support, and societal prejudice.19 In fact, the prevalence of maternal
depression among low - income
women in the United States is double the prevalence rate for all U.S.
women.20 At the same time, these
women are less likely to receive treatment or be screened for
postpartum depression.21 Studies show there are clear racial and ethnic disparities in who accesses treatment in the United States, even among
women of the same general socio - economic status: In a multiethnic cohort of lower - income Medicaid recipients, 9 percent of white
women sought treatment, compared
with 4 percent of African American
women and 5 percent of Latinas.22