Beyond the Fourth Trimester: Innovative Approaches in Postpartum Care (Sponsored by The Women’s Health SIG)

Abstract: Postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are the most common complications of pregnancy. In fact, pooled data from 36 US states’ Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) from 2017-2019 reveals mental health conditions as the leading cause of death. Moreover, there are disparities in perinatal mental health care, with Black birthing parents being twice as likely to suffer from perinatal mental health conditions but half as likely to receive care. As a result, the consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatrist must be equipped to screen, evaluate, and treat PMADs. This session will prepare C-L psychiatrists to manage PMADs by presenting a review of the following: (1) novel pharmacological treatments for postpartum depression; (2) innovative and integrated approaches in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which carries the highest prevalence of PMADs; (3) doula care in the peripartum period as a strategy to reduce healthcare disparities; and (4) the effect of nutrition and sleep on PMADs.

Dr. Spada will introduce the session and provide a brief background on the epidemiology of PMADs (5 minutes). Dr. Nichols will continue the session with a case-based interactive review of brexanolone and zuranolone to target postpartum depression (20 minutes). Following this, Dr. Shenai will engage the audience using open-ended and multiple-choice questions to discuss NICU postpartum consultations including improved access to care and specialized treatment of this high-risk population such as newborn behavioral observation (15 minutes). Dr. Spada will then discuss doula care as a strategy to reduce disparities in perinatal care with multiple-choice questions integrated into the presentation (10 minutes). Following this, Dr. Lavingia will review the impact of sleep and nutrition on PMADs using a case-based format (15 minutes). The last 10 minutes will be used for Q&A with the speakers, led by Dr. Shenai.

The Women’s Health SIG sponsors this workshop.