Postpartum Progress

Chinese Custom of "Doing the Month" Not Always Protective for Postpartum Depression

A study published in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders has examined 16 different studies and concludes that there is little consistent evidence that the Chinese postpartum custom of confinement or "doing the month" reduces postpartum depression among Chinese mothers. 

The practice of confinement involves comprehensive social support and has been though to protect new moms from PPD.  The new mother is confined to her home for the first month after chidlbirth and someone cares for both her and the baby's needs during that period, sometimes the mother-in-law and sometimes a paid pui-yuet or "confinement lady". 

The study authors, from the University of Melbourne in Australia, state that "confinement cannot be presumed to be available to, welcomed by or effective for all Chinese women or to be a substitute for health service provision."

Study Finds Internet Effective Way to Administer PPD Screens

The March 2009 issue of Maternal Child Health Journal offers a study from researchers at George Washington University and Johns Hopkins that examined using the Internet to screen for postpartum depression symtpoms.  The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used and then compared with the results of screens administered in person.

The study found that a higher proportion of Hispanic and Asian women participated on the Internet compared to the in-person study.  (Interesting!)  It also found that the PDSS had excellent "internal consistencies and construct validity", which I think means it was very effective no matter how it was administered.  The Internet sample also reported more risk for major postpartum depression (PPD) compared to the community sample (23% vs. 12%). They concluded that the Internet is a viable and feasible tool to screen for PPD.

I just love this place!  I'll be adding this study to the speech I give on how women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders use the Internet.  If you're interested in having me speak at your event, let me know!  (Plug.  Plug.  Plug.)

Indiawest: South Asian Women Suffer PPD In Silence

Thanks to PSI Board Member and fabulous Warrior Mom Kimberly Wong for letting me know about this article from Indiawest Online about South Asian women and their experience with postpartum depression.  This is an excellent story about how cultural differences can impact postpartum depression, and about how immigrant status is a significant risk factor, which has been borne out by recent research.  I encourage you to check it out!