Antenatal depression: how midwives can help.

Pregnancy was once thought to be a protective factor against depression; yet increasingly, research suggests the changes and demands of pregnancy can impact negatively upon maternal and infant wellbeing. A recent survey of 260 women by Netmums and the Royal College of Midwives showed 80 per cent of the women who suffered from depression antenatally went on to suffer postnatal depression (Netmums/RCM 2012). Identification of women at increased risk of psychological distress is crucial to allow appropriate and timely intervention. Midwives have a central role in supporting women's wellbeing and can make a valuable contribution to the promotion of mental health in the perinatal period.