Anxiety in New Moms

While most people are tuned into the warning signs of postpartum depression in new mothers, friends and family members are far less likely to make the connection between a mom's feelings of anxiety about her new role as a mother (after all, aren't new moms supposed to be a little anxious?) and the possibility that she is struggling with a perinatal anxiety disorder.
It doesn't help that far less is known about anxiety disorders during pregnancy and early motherhood than about prenatal and postpartum depressions. Researchers at the University of British Columbia's Mother-Infant Wellness Lab hope to rectify that situation through a comprehensive Perinatal Anxiety Screening study that is now underway in Vancouver.
The researchers—who are associated UBC's Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology—are seeking to pinpoint the frequency of perinatal anxiety disorders and to determine whether the traditional tools used to detect depression during pregnancy and early motherhood are as effective at screening for anxiety as they are at screening for depression.
You can learn more about the study by visiting www.motherinfantwellness.ca.

• Ann Douglas is the author of numerous books about pregnancy and parenting, including The Mother of All Parenting Books and Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler. Check out Ann's brand new blog at ParentCentral.ca: http://thestar.blogs.com/anndouglas/