POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION: WHAT CAN THE PAEDIATRICIAN DO?

Key words: Post-partum Depression, Mother-child relationship, Support to parents

The observation of the mother, child and their relationship is not always sufficient to recognize post-partum depression, which can be highlighted thanks to the open questions that the paediatrician asks the mother at the end of the visit, thus showing his/her interest also in the mother’s health. After having supposed depression the paediatrician will have to accompany the mother towards the deepening of the diagnosis and treatment, choosing with her the physician, either the psychiatrist or psychologist. At the same time he/she will support the mother trying to improve her self-esteem and capacity to understand her child and to gradually solve ordinary problems. The social and family support will be relevant, in particular the role of the partner and the attendance to child massage courses are important. Moreover, the paediatrician has to take any opportunity to improve the mother-child interaction by giving practical advice. In conclusion, it is essential to improve the training of paediatricians on the parents’ capacity to relate, since parents are more and more insecure before their role.