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A recent study found people with postpartum depression experienced brain changes during pregnancy that could affect their emotional and mental well-being after giving birth.
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Postpartum depression may begin during pregnancy and linger well past the first few weeks of your newborn’s life.
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According to research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 8 birthing parents report having feelings of postpartum depression. This study sheds new light on the underlying causes of this common condition.
Changes to the brain during pregnancy could be a precursor to postpartum depression, according to a recent study. The findings shed new light on how a birthing parent’s emotional well-being during pregnancy and after giving birth is connected to changes in their brain and not “just hormones and lack of sleep.”
“We are learning more about brain changes related to pregnancy and postpartum. This study and those like it show us the direction to go with treatment and further research. It also corroborates what we know to be true: Many episodes of postpartum depression begin in pregnancy,” says Danielle Jenkins, PsyD, psychologist at Swedish.
Brain changes during pregnancy
In the study, researchers followed first-time birthing parents throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period. Participants were given brain scans at different times and answered questionnaires designed to assess their mental health and depression levels. They found that changes in a portion of the brain called the amygdala that occurred during pregnancy changed how the birthing parent processed emotional experiences.
Results also showed that the quality of the birth experience, whether positive or negative, also played a role in these brain changes. People who reported more positive birth experiences showed healthier patterns of brain connectivity.
“To understand this study, it’s important to understand the role of the amygdala and hippocampus,” says Ash Choi, MA, LMHC, PMH-C, behavioral health provider at Ballard OB/GYN & Midwifery.
“The amygdala plays a key role in processing emotions and emotional reactions, associating emotions with the formation of memories, regulating stress responses, and ultimately, impacting whether or not we slip into a state of flight, fight or freeze. The hippocampus converts short-term memories into long-term memories and stores them,” they explain. “The hippocampus and amygdala each play pivotal roles in our responses and reactions to trauma.”
Why this matters
The study’s findings highlight the importance of supporting a birthing parent’s mental health during pregnancy and during the postpartum period.
“Right now, birthing parents with postpartum depression aren’t as closely monitored as birthing parents during pregnancy. This is a profound failure of our health care system,” says Choi.
“It’s great we’re actually studying these types of things. Studies like this are long overdue,” says Dr. Jenkins.
Reshaping the approach to treatment
Currently, care options for postpartum depression include a wide range of options, including psychotherapy or behavioral health support, antidepression medication, social/peer support, and, in severe cases, intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs or inpatient care.
The study’s findings have the potential to help reshape how postpartum depression is treated.
“That’s the best-case scenario,” says Choi. “There is so little discourse and even less research on the health and well-being of birthing individuals. We are living in a country that does not place enough value on the experiences of birthing parents. My hope is that this study encourages more research, which will hopefully inspire our health care industry to make meaningful and lasting improvements when it comes to perinatal mental health care.”
Learn more and find a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC)
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, like postpartum depression, are a common complication of pregnancy. Contact the Swedish Center for Perinatal Bonding and Support if you are pregnant or postpartum and struggling with your mental health. For more information about comprehensive behavioral healthcare at Swedish, contact Swedish Behavioral Health and Wellbeing.
Swedish has three birth centers — First Hill, Issaquah and Edmonds — making it convenient for people who live or work in the Seattle, Eastside and North End areas. Swedish patients can take classes, meet other families, get help with lactation and go for new parents and well-baby checkups at The Lytle Center for Pregnancy & Newborns at our First Hill birth center. You can also get expert advice there and help with wellness. Visit our website to learn more about midwives at Swedish and how they can partner with you to create the most personalized birthing experience possible.
If you need a gynecologist, women's health specialist or primary care doctor, Swedish is here for you. Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Swedish Virtual Care connects you face-to-face with a nurse practitioner who can review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. If you need to find a doctor, you can use our provider directory.
Information for patients and visitors
Additional resources
Not just the baby blues. Swedish experts on postpartum anxiety and depression
Could pregnancy brain be a superpower?
Can you laugh your way through labor pain?
A labor of love: midwives offer comprehensive women’s health care for every stage of life
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional's instructions.
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