Saskatoon Sun, Sunday, April 3, 2011

The arrival of their son Cole brought joy and excitement to Lindsay and Brendan Tumback. However for some families postpartum depression can affect the
health of mother, baby, spouses and other family members.
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Manning, Edna. Star - Phoenix [Saskatoon, Sask] 03 Apr 2011: pp. SU.3.

Abstract (summary)
Maternal mental health is the subject of an awareness campaign called Feelings in Pregnancy and Motherhood
Study, which began in 2005 by Angela Bowen and Nazeem Muhajarine along with a team of interviewers and
research assistants. Due to the significant… Show all
Full Text
Pregnancy and motherhood should be a Pjoyful, fulfilling time in a woman's life, but statistics show that one out of
five women experiences depression during pregnancy or after the baby is born. It's a condition that can impact
the entire family.
Maternal mental health is the subject of an awareness campaign called Feelings in Pregnancy and Motherhood
Study, which began in 2005 by Angela Bowen and Nazeem Muhajarine along with a team of interviewers and
research assistants.
Bowen is a registered nurse and an associate professor in the college of nursing and an associate member at the
department of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan. She has extensive experience in obstetrics, mental
health and nursing education. Muhajarine is a professor and department head on the community health and
epidemiology department at the University of Saskatchewan.
The study involved 649 women recruited from doctors' offices and through advertising. Women were interviewed
three times: Once in early pregnancy, once in late pregnancy and once after the baby was born.
"We have long been aware of postpartum depression, but we wanted to learn more about depression during
pregnancy because there can be potential implications to the baby's health, the mother's health and the
pregnancy outcomes.
"We were not aware of any longitudinal studies of depression in pregnancy and postpartum here in Canada. There
were some studies done in the U.K. and the U.S., but none in Canada. Due to the significant consequences of
untreated maternal depression and anxiety, it is essential that education, screening and treatment of maternal
mental health problems become health priorities," says Bowen.
Untreated maternal depression and anxiety can have implications for the whole family. There is increased risk of
pregnancy complications, preterm birth, problems with breastfeeding and mother/baby bonding difficulties. The
baby can experience developmental and cognitive difficulties.
Partners of women affected by depression can also experience depression and stress. Bowen says one of the
recommendations they're making is that the partners of women who are screened for depression should be
screened as well. "We're the first group in Canada to be advocating this."
Of the women recruited for the study, most were married, had more than one child, had graduated from
post-secondary education, earned more than $60,000 and had planned their pregnancies. What the studies
revealed was that 14 per cent of women had symptoms of depression during pregnancy and 20 per cent were
affected postpartum.
Some of the symptoms of depression during or after pregnancy include: Decreased interest in activities they used
to enjoy; crying for no reason; irritability, anger or feeling more sensitive; fatigue or loss of energy; insomnia or
sleeping too much; problems concentrating; feelings of being unable to cope; anxious or feeling panicky; and
thoughts of harming themselves, the baby or others.
"We suggested women seek assessment or treatment if they screened positive for depression. Those who were
treated showed improvement in depression symptoms over the course of the study, but women who were
depressed and didn't seek treatment experienced worsening in their symptoms," says Bowen.
A group of 47 women also completed mood diaries during all phases of the study, Bowen says. The study
confirmed that pregnant women are indeed more moody than nonpregnant women and those women who are
more moody and irritable are more prone to be depressed overall.
"As women in the study were being referred for treatment, a Maternal Mental Health program was initiated.
Today the program is run out of West Winds Primary Health Centre and the department of psychiatry in
Saskatoon, which can be reached by calling 966-8223 or the Postpartum Hotline at 221-6806.

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"In addition to presentations that have been made at various professional conferences and articles that are
currently under review, the study has provided a rich database for graduate students to analyze. One student has
analyzed the data we collected about nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Her report shows that 65 per cent of
women experience nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy and 45 per cent are still experiencing these symptoms
in the third trimester. Severe nausea and vomiting is associated with stress, lack of social support, being
employed and having major depression," Bowen relates.
In addition to the development of the Maternal Mental Health Program, the women who have participated in the
study have contributed a great deal to the formation of the MotherFirst report that was endorsed by the Minister
of Health, Don McMorris, in October 2010.
"The MotherFirst initiative promotes universal screening for all pregnant and postpartum women using the same
tools we used in the Feelings in Pregnancy and Motherhood Study, identification of supports and treatment options
in all regions of the province, and ongoing initiatives to improve the mental health of childbearing women in
Saskatchewan," says Bowen.
"This study was originally funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). We have received
additional monies from CIHR and the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan to continue a followup study
with mothers and children aged three and five years who were born to mothers who participated in the Feelings in
Pregnancy and Motherhood Study.
"We have been able to connect with 75 per cent of women who completed the study, but would like to invite all
women who participated in it to contact us. We are interested in talking to all the women who perhaps received
materials, but are concerned it's too late to participate. There's been a great deal of interest in this study and we
want to be able to follow up on those women who struggled and those who didn't."
The follow-up study involves mothers completing some testing of child growth and development and answering
similar questions to those in the earlier questionnaire. A small stipend is paid to participants.
For more information contact Angela Bowen at 966-2957 or 1-877-966-2957 or email angela.bowen@usask.ca.
For information about maternal mental health, visit www.skmaternalmentalhealth.ca.
Credit: Edna Manning; For The Saskatoon Sun
Illustration
Sun Edna Manning / The arrival of their son Cole brought joy and excitement to Lindsay and Brendan Tumback.
However, for some families postpartum depression can affect the health of mother, baby, spouses and other
family members; / Angela Bowen worked with Nazeem Muhajarine (not shown) on the Feelings in Pregnancyand
Motherhood Study;; Caption:
Indexing (details)
Subjects Womens health, Mental depression, Pregnancy, Studies,
Education
Title Campaign focuses on maternal mental health
Authors Manning, Edna
Publication title Star - Phoenix
First Page SU.3
Publication year 2011
Publication Date Apr 3, 2011
Year 2011
Section Special Section
Publisher Southam Publications Inc.
Place of Publication Saskatoon, Sask.
Country of publication Canada
ISSN 08324174
Source type Newspapers
Language of Publication English
Document Type News
ProQuest Document ID 860160865
Document URL http://search.proquest.com/docview
/860160865?accountid=14739
Copyright Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Apr 3, 2011

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