Implementation of a Perinatal Depression Care Bundle in a Nurse-Managed Midwifery Practice

To implement a perinatal depression care bundle at a midwifery practice to help certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) educate women about perinatal depression and direct those affected to mental health services.

Quality improvement project to implement a perinatal depression care bundle for care of pregnant women between 24 and 29 weeks gestation.

CNMs practicing in a nurse-managed midwifery practice systematically screen all women for perinatal depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period but do not have a consistent method of providing anticipatory guidance about perinatal depression.

All CNMs in the midwifery practice providing prenatal care (n = 16) participated in implementation.

The perinatal depression care bundle included three elements: (a) an educational handout; (b) a brief, provider-initiated discussion about perinatal depression; and (c) lists of local and online mental health resources. Four weeks after the care bundle was implemented, we conducted a retrospective chart review to assess CNMs' adherence to the new bundle.

Over 4 weeks, 51 prenatal visits met eligibility criteria for participation. CNMs implemented the perinatal depression care bundle for 22 (43.1%) eligible visits. CNM feedback indicated that the care bundle was brief, easy to incorporate into routine care, and well received by women.

This project incorporated the use of a perinatal depression care bundle for women seen during routine prenatal care. Using a systematic approach to deliver perinatal depression education and resources reduces process variability and may destigmatize the illness, allowing women to feel empowered to seek help before depression symptoms become severe.