Task Force: Pregnant women, new mothers should be screened for depression

New information released about depression and pregnant women has prompted health officials to recommend that pregnant women and new mothers need more attention when it comes to depression screening.Three-month-old Nash is Laura Diaz’s little sweetheart, but his mother, the XL 1067 radio personality, says it wasn’t always like this. Diaz said she began to feel like something was wrong when she was pregnant.Diaz said things began to get darker for her after her son was born. “I remember looking at him screaming at the top of his lungs for hours, and I thought, maybe I should put this pillow on his face, that would end this right now.”Diaz sought help from her doctor and family and is now being treated for maternal mental illness.The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended that women be screened for depression during pregnancy and after giving birth.Dr. Lori Boardman, the chief medical officer for the Florida Hospital for Women, applauds the new recommendation. “A lot of women get the baby blues, postpartum depression takes it up another level,” Boardman said.Boardman said withdrawal and sadness can happen a year after the baby is born.Diaz hopes that by taking the shame away, more women will seek treatment.

New information released about depression and pregnant women has prompted health officials to recommend that pregnant women and new mothers need more attention when it comes to depression screening.

Three-month-old Nash is Laura Diaz’s little sweetheart, but his mother, the XL 1067 radio personality, says it wasn’t always like this. Diaz said she began to feel like something was wrong when she was pregnant.


Diaz said things began to get darker for her after her son was born. “I remember looking at him screaming at the top of his lungs for hours, and I thought, maybe I should put this pillow on his face, that would end this right now.”

Diaz sought help from her doctor and family and is now being treated for maternal mental illness.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended that women be screened for depression during pregnancy and after giving birth.

Dr. Lori Boardman, the chief medical officer for the Florida Hospital for Women, applauds the new recommendation. “A lot of women get the baby blues, postpartum depression takes it up another level,” Boardman said.

Boardman said withdrawal and sadness can happen a year after the baby is born.

Diaz hopes that by taking the shame away, more women will seek treatment.