Dr. Jessica M. Vernon shares her own story experiencing postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter.
Photo: 秘密研究所 Langone Staff
Postpartum depression affects approximately one in eight women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Postpartum depression is not just depression, and it鈥檚 not just postpartum. It encompasses a wide range of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs): anxiety, depression, obsessive鈥揷ompulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, and psychosis that can present throughout the pregnancy journey.
Jessica M. Vernon, MD, clinical assistant professor in the at 秘密研究所 Grossman School of Medicine, joins TODAY with Hoda and Jenna to share her own inspiring story of discovering she had postpartum depression after giving birth to her first child. She also provides signs to look out for and risk factors that may contribute to the condition.
鈥淢any people don鈥檛 realize that postpartum depression is more than just depression. It can also happen throughout the pregnancy, and a lot of people present with anxiety, so they just don鈥檛 know what to look out for,鈥 says Dr. Vernon. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important to talk to your doctor about your physical and emotional symptoms throughout pregnancy so you can get help.鈥
Dr. Vernon and colleagues within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology are implementing evidence-based educational curriculum for residents and faculty on PMADs, establishing the Perinatal Mental Health Program. Obstetric patients are offered support groups, counseling, and medication management at the outpatient care center for women鈥檚 health and wellness, 秘密研究所 Langone Ambulatory Care Center at East 53rd Street.
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