SOARING HEALTH’s Post

Mental health conditions are the most common complications of pregnancy and the postpartum period, affecting 1 in 5 perinatal individuals. Mental health conditions—such as depression, anxiety, death by suicide, and substance use disorders—are the most frequent underlying cause of maternal death overall. This job aid presents high impact practices to respond to mental health conditions in the outpatient sexual and reproductive health setting, along with resources to support implementation: https://lnkd.in/gZtXBYPv This resource is part of a series of High Impact Practice Sets (HIPS), developed by the RHNTC in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) that address leading causes of maternal mortality and racial disparities in #MaternalHealth.

In this powerful Op-ed on #maternalmentalhealth, AOTA member Dr. Jessica McHugh Conlin shines a light on the critical “fourth trimester,” also called the postpartum period. Dr. Conlin demonstrates how #occupationaltherapy is the optimal discipline to meet maternal needs after birth. https://bit.ly/4bB81En

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a public health crisis that has lived in the shadows of society despite being one of the most common medical complications associated with childbirth. It is estimated that about one in eight women in the U.S. experience symptoms of PPD, with the prevalence reported to be much higher among Black and brown women. PPD is more prevalent than preterm birth, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes, all of which are commonly screened for and treated urgently. Yet women with PPD often face societal stigma and barriers to treatment access. #health #healthcare #mentalhealth #maternalhealth #healthequity #rethinkhealth https://lnkd.in/gt9WDdad

Association of previous stillbirth with subsequent perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies https://ow.ly/CY6c50T1FOU

#PerinatalMentalHealth should be seen as a core element in improving maternal and newborn survival and well-being. A new opinion article in PLOS Global Public Health discusses the unmet mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum women and their caregivers. "The perinatal period is a phase of life in which individuals have repeated contact with health care providers," write the authors. "Harnessing existing perinatal service delivery platforms to address women’s mental health needs, in addition to their physical health needs, is an imperative for individual and societal impact that countries cannot afford to miss." https://lnkd.in/eC77FzGN

Association of previous stillbirth with subsequent perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies https://ow.ly/7NzO50SPT42

Postpartum depression affects up to 20% of childbearers and 10% of fathers globally, and is the leading cause of maternal death overall in the U.S. This is an "Asian News is American News" moment. Recent California electronic health records reveal that postpartum depression in Asian communities increased 280% from 2010 to 2021 - the highest relative increase of any other ethnic group. Asian people also undergo some of the highest rates of physically and emotionally traumatizing emergency birth interventions (C-sections, vacuum or forceps assistance, episiotomies - the use of surgical scissors to cut open the tissue from the opening of the vagina down toward the anus to help a baby to come out). Yet, Asian people who have given birth remain the least likely to seek or access help for postpartum difficulties, relying instead on a siloed system of limited OB/GYN visits codified back in 1930 by the U.S. Child Bureau and hardly changed until the pandemic pushed visits online, opening the door to easier-to-access perinatal care and consultation. The main reason repeatedly cited for why Asian people do not seek or get help is their cultural stigmatization of mental health topics. There's a lot more to it than that - more even than lack of outreach, lack of data, lack of cultural competence and language services, and shortages of specialists. Would appreciate if you would take a read and let me know what you think, particularly as I have never had a child myself. I had to rely on mental health experts, OB/GYNs, clinicians, birthworkers, and "regular" mothers who had been through harrowing birth trauma in order to cobble together this big picture about how the worst-rated maternal healthcare system out of all the developed countries is impacting the people who bring life to this world. What I've learned is that the suffering of mothers is mass-normalized as a given in an attempt to stay positive. But after seeing this common condition affect some of the closest people to me, I beseech everyone to get informed about what really happens to a body and mind when a baby comes through. Reach out to the mothers around you - ask if they're really okay, and help them find one another. Encourage them to get set up with a therapist they can trust and resonate with BEFORE they think they need one. And so on. All gratitude goes to comedian Jiaoying Summers, Cherie Seah and the Asian Birth Collective, Dr. Nancy Z. Tang, M.D. FACOG, Divya Kumar LICSW, Sc.M., PMH-C, Estella Owoimaha-Church of Empower Pacific Islander Communities, Healing the Tigress podcasters Peggy Chen and Jasmine, Isabel Nguyen, "Cindy Lim," March of Dimes, and the California Health Care Foundation for sharing their stories, research, and graphics. And thank you to USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism for its support in the "Healing California" ethnic media health stories collaboration that made this reporting possible.

Association of previous stillbirth with subsequent perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies https://ow.ly/rwm850SWq3K

Up to 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, yet it isn’t something people are comfortable opening up about. Though perinatal loss is a common occurrence, it’s often associated with feelings of self-stigma or shame. And people often feel the need to keep those feelings hidden, especially if they are going through fertility treatments. But employers can play a role in alleviating this stigma. In a great piece, my colleague Charmaine Alexander shares her thoughts on how employers can support employees through the psychological, physical and financial effects of perinatal loss. Read more here 👇 #DesjardinsInsurance #GroupBenefits #WorkplaceSupport

Check out this article from the latest Lamaze International Journal of Perinatal Education. The connection between the natural world and green space is so essential to human health, so perinatal health outcomes should come as no surprise. #LCCE #maternalinfanthealth