A new baby is a joyous addition to the family. But as a new mother, you may feel a lot of stress, anxiety, and perhaps even inexplicable sadness along with this joy. Sometimes you may wonder, "Why is this happening to me? Why am I the only one sad when everyone else is happy?" You don't have to feel alone. This is not something that happens to you alone. Today we are going to talk about something very important that will help us understand these feelings.
What is the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS)?
Simply put, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a very simple questionnaire that you can fill out yourself. It mainly looks at whether you have symptoms of depression during pregnancy and within the first year after having a baby. To be precise, it is a self-administered method.
This questionnaire has 10 questions. Each question asks how you have been feeling over the past week. These questions ask about the emotions that are most common during postpartum depression, such as feeling guilty, anxious, and feeling like everything is too much to handle.
It gets its name from the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, where it was first developed. Today, the EPDS is the most popular and accurate method used to diagnose postpartum depression worldwide.
According to experts, this test is usually done several times during pregnancy, at the 6-week postpartum checkup, then at 6 months and a year later. This can give you a better understanding of your mental state.
This score can help you understand whether you are at risk of developing perinatal depression and whether you need treatment. It is also a good tool to check on your partner's mental health.
What is Postpartum Depression?
This is a mental illness that occurs after having a baby. It affects about 13% of new mothers. It is characterized by unbearable sadness, anxiety, and a loss of interest in things that used to be enjoyable. It often begins within the first three weeks of having a baby. However, it can occur at any time during the first year.
Many people don't seek treatment for this. This can be due to shame or fear of "what others will think." But if it's left untreated, it can make it harder for you to take care of yourself and your baby. It can affect your bond with your baby and even your ability to breastfeed. So it's important to be aware of this.
Do you have these symptoms too? Then try an EPDS.
It's normal to feel a little sad, irritable, and moody after having a baby. We also call this the "baby blues." But if these feelings persist for more than two weeks , it could be postpartum depression.
Look at the table below and think about whether you have any of these characteristics.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Unbearable sadness | I always feel empty, sad, and hopeless. I cry in vain. |
| Loss of interest in anything | I no longer feel like doing things I used to enjoy (watching TV, talking to friends). |
| Sleep changes | I sleep all the time, or I don't sleep at all. I don't feel like sleeping even when my baby is sleeping. |
| Severe anxiety | I feel a great burden on my heart, a sense of unnecessary fear and anxiety. |
| Changes in diet | You may lose your appetite or eat too much, which can lead to weight loss or gain. |
| Guilty feelings | Feelings like "I'm not a good mother" and "I'm a failure" often come to mind. |
| Attention and memory | Forgetting things, having difficulty focusing on one thing. |
| Bonding with the baby | It feels like it's difficult to take care of the baby and bond with him. |
| Dangerous thoughts | Having thoughts of harming yourself or the baby. |
If you have any of these symptoms, especially if you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, please see a doctor immediately. This is not something to hide. You need help.
What to expect from the EPDS test?
This is very simple. You can find this questionnaire online, or you can ask your doctor for it. It will take about 5 minutes to complete.
For each of the 10 questions, you have to choose the answer that best describes how you have felt over the past 7 days. For example, there may be questions like these:
- Question: I was able to be happy and optimistic about things.
- [+0] I was able to do it almost every day.
- [+1] A little less than before
- [+2] Much less than before
- [+3] Absolutely impossible.
- Question: I felt anxious or scared for no reason.
- [+0] No, not at all.
- [+1] Very rarely
- [+2] Yes, sometimes.
- [+3] Yes, most of the time.
- Question: I have had thoughts of harming myself.
- [+0] Never.
- [+1] Very rarely
- [+2] Sometimes
- [+3] Yes, most of the time.
This last question is very important. If you have even the slightest thoughts like these, you should talk to your doctor about it without hesitation.
EPDS score and its meaning
Each answer is scored from 0 to 3. The maximum number of points you can get is 30. Based on these scores, your situation can be roughly divided as follows.
| Score range | Meaning (roughly) |
|---|---|
| 0 - 6 | No or very minimal depressive symptoms. |
| 7 - 13 | Shows mild depressive symptoms (more than 10 points requires further attention). |
| 14 - 19 | Moderate depressive symptoms. |
| 19 - 30 | Significant depressive symptoms. |
Doctors usually consider a score of 10 or 13 as a cutoff. This means that if your score is higher than that, you may need further testing and help.
But keep this in mind: The EPDS is not a diagnostic tool. That is, it cannot tell you 100% for sure whether you have Postpartum Depression based on your scores alone. It only identifies those at risk. For an accurate diagnosis, you should definitely see a qualified doctor, such as a psychiatrist.
How to get help?
If your score is over 10, or even if your score is low, you still feel like "there's something wrong with me," please don't ignore it. It's very difficult to deal with this kind of stress while taking care of a new baby.
See your obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) or mental health professional for a complete evaluation.
Your doctor will discuss these results with you, ask you some more questions, and tell you what to do next. He or she may also ask you to do the test again in about two weeks.
Treatment options include talk therapy and antidepressants. A pill called Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) has also been approved for this condition. Talk to your doctor to determine if it is safe to breastfeed while taking this medication.
It's also important to have good support. Ask your doctor about support groups you can join.
Take-Home Message
- The EPDS is a simple questionnaire used to see if you have any symptoms of depression after having a baby.
- This is only to identify those at risk. This is not a diagnosis.
- If your score is more than 10 or you feel mentally uncomfortable, definitely see a doctor.
- Postpartum depression is nothing to be ashamed of. There are effective treatments for it. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
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