Post-natal depression hits 20pc of mothers

fonte: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=451570&in_page_id=1774

 29th April 2007

Post-natal depression rates are up to 20 per cent

The rate of new mothers suffering postnatal depression has doubled to 20 per cent.
The rise is being blamed on the distressing experiences suffered by many women during labour at overstretched NHS maternity units all over the country.
The survey by the Royal College of Midwives shows the number of mothers of children up to a year old who have the condition is even higher - at 27 per cent.
A study by the Royal College of Psychiatrists estimated in 2000 that 10 per cent of mothers were affected by PND.
The RCM study found the risk of becoming depressed was far higher for women who had a bad experience at birth.
The college says a shortage of 10,000 NHS midwives makes it harder for hospitals to provide a good service to pregnant women.
A nationwide survey last month found two thirds of women were being left alone too soon after birth because of the lack of midwives, leaving them isolated and frightened.
The Government has given up on an election pledge that all mothers should have one-to-one care with a midwife by 2009, leading to fears that women could be left with assistants during labour.

By DANIEL MARTIN