Improving Maternal Mental Health: Non-Pharmacological Recommendations for Mothers in a Pediatric Setting

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, impacting 15% of all women, and affects a mother’s ability to bond and form a secure attachment with her infant (Kallem et al., 2019). Infants of mothers who suffer from postpartum depression have been shown to have impairments in growth, brain development, and cognitive, behavioral, and social development (Lamere et al., 2022). Pharmacological treatments like antidepressants are the mainstay treatment options. However, several mothers, especially those who are breastfeeding, have concerns about safety and side effects. There is an emerging interest in exploring the use of nonpharmacologic modalities as an alternative treatment, and these interventions are well- received by mothers (G et al., 2024). Purpose: The purpose of this project is to educate mothers on holistic, non-pharmacological, evidence-based recommendations to improve symptoms of anxiety and depression. Methods: Participants involved in this quality improvement project were mothers of children at Horizon Health and Wellness who attended well-child visits up to 12 months of age. The project investigator recruited these mothers on the day of their appointment with a consent and disclosure letter. An educational handout on non-pharmacological interventions for postpartum depression and anxiety was given, and a post survey was implemented to measure perceived awareness and benefits of behavior change. Results: After 2 weeks of implementation, 11 mothers participated in the project with a completed written survey. A Likert scale was used to analyze the results of the survey, and answers were interpreted rating from 1 (strongly disagree/highly unlikely) to 5 (strongly agree/highly likely). Average scores were calculated and used to evaluate results. Overall, participants had a better understanding of the impact PPD/PPA can have on children (4.7) and learned something new from the educational handout (4.9). Furthermore, 9 out of 11 women stated they were likely to implement the recommended holistic interventions, with an additional mother answering that she was highly likely to implement changes. Conclusions: This quality improvement project showed that the use of an educational handout was beneficial in enhancing maternal knowledge on the effects PPD/PPA can have on children and introducing new interventions that can be implemented into their daily life. Embedding this education into pediatric care offers a low-cost, accessible way to reduce stigma, support maternal well-being, and ultimately improve outcomes for both mothers and infants.