[Influence of prophylactic information on the frequency of baby blues]

Baby blues, a mood alteration, occurs in 30 to 80 % of the women during the first two weeks after childbirth. We evaluated if the frequency of baby blues can be influenced by oral and written information about these mood alterations. We wanted to find out whether information about postpartum depression could make these woman realize their own possible depression and therefore seek professional help more rapidly.

In a prospective randomized study German-speaking women were randomized on the second or third day after childbirth in our institution into an "information group" and a "control group". The first group was given oral and written information about baby blues and postpartum depression. Both groups were evaluated by Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) translated into German 3 days, 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum, by a visual-analogue questionnaire covering the first 6 weeks and by a self-report covering the whole period postpartum after 3 months.

We obtained valuable information from 169 women. Only 12 (15 %) women of the "information group" experienced a baby blues vs. 25 (29 %) of the "control group" (RR 0.55, P = 0,027, CI 0.28 - 0.93). Concerning postpartum depression, no significant difference could be seen. The percentage of scores above 11 in the EPDS around birth was 8.5 % vs. 9.3 % in the information vs. control group. 6 weeks after birth the percentages were 7.5 vs. 7.1 % and 12 weeks after birth they were 7.3 % vs. 8.0 %. Of the women considering themselves as depressive by self evaluation 3 months postpartum, only a few sought help from a specialist: 7 of 13 in the Information vs. 4 of 14 in the control group. The difference is not statistically significant.

We conclude that oral and written information about baby blues given postpartum can be an effective instrument to lower its frequency. No difference in postpartum depression could be registered - either in prevalence or in seeking professional help.