Sydney Sentieri and Cathy Fletcher, Carroll College

Many women around the world may experience postpartum depression (PPD). According to ACOG (2019), PPD most commonly occurs in the first weeks after childbirth but can occur up to a year after childbirth. It presents as intense feelings of sadness, inability to perform daily tasks, and anxiety. This can interrupt the bonding process between mother and baby; therefore, it is our duty as nurses to ask the questions pertaining to depression and help the families who are affected by this disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019), “about 1 in 9 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression” (para. 7). Research suggests that if women exercise during pregnancy, they may be less likely to experience postpartum depression (Shakeel et al., 2018). The purpose of this Evidence Based Practice brief is to investigate the relationship between women who begin an exercise program during pregnancy and the development of postpartum depression. Nurses can use this information to help women with postpartum depression. This will be important because PPD can be prevented and it effects the family as a whole and not just the mother.