New research has shown that women with severe maternal morbidity (SMM) are at a higher risk of hospitalizations or emergency department (ED) visits related to mental health conditions up to 13 years after giving birth. A retrospective cohort study conducted by Asia Blackman from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada analyzed data from 1,579,392 individuals aged 18-55 years who had their first recorded liveborn or stillborn delivery from a pregnancy lasting 20-43 weeks.
The study found that individuals with SMM had a 1.3-fold increased risk of mental health hospitalizations or ED visits compared to those without SMM. The highest risk was seen for suicidality and self-harm. The authors suggest that knowledge of the short- and long-term risks of serious mental health conditions after SMM could inform the need for enhanced postpartum supportive resources.
However, the study has limitations, including its observational design, missing data, and potential misclassification bias. It was supported by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and some authors reported receiving personal fees or grants outside of the submitted work. No other conflicts of interest were reported.
