Increased Risk Of Postpartum Depression Following Severe Obstetric Lacerations In Women With Low Resilience

Depression affects around one in ten women in the first few months after birth, making it one of the most common morbidities to affect women during this time. It is associated with a range of adverse sequalae for women, children and the wider family (Meltzer-Brody et al,Nat Rev Dis Primers,2018;4:18022). A range of risk factors have been identified, many of which occur during pregnancy. These include conditions such as gestational diabetes (Wilson et al,Diab Med,2020;37:602), which may increase the risk for other complications such as perineal lacerations. Such complications may serve as mediators on the pathway linking a number of these risk factors with an increased risk of postpartum depression.