A longitudinal cohort study of 14,541 pregnant women in Avon found that depression symptoms were higher at 32 weeks of pregnancy than 8 weeks postpartum, but there was no difference in the distribution of total scores or individual symptoms across the four time points. The study used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to measure depression symptoms, with a threshold of 12 indicating probable depressive disorder. The results showed that 13.5% of women had probable depression at 32 weeks of pregnancy, 9.1% at 8 weeks postpartum, and 1.6% throughout. More mothers moved above the threshold for depression between 18 weeks and 32 weeks of pregnancy than between 32 weeks of pregnancy and 8 weeks postpartum. The study concluded that symptoms of depression are not more common or severe after childbirth than during pregnancy. Research and clinical efforts should focus on understanding, recognizing, and treating antenatal depression. The study also found that depression during pregnancy is common and that antenatal depression may have important effects on the uterine environment. The results suggest that childbirth is less likely to be followed by depression in women who are not depressed, and more likely to be followed by improvement in women who are depressed. The study highlights the importance of screening and treating depression during pregnancy, particularly for women with severe depression. The study also notes that the consequences of antenatal depression are not well understood and that further research is needed to explore the effects of antenatal depression on the child. The study emphasizes the need for a working environment and incentives that encourage the use of clinical outcome indicators to improve continuous quality improvement.A longitudinal cohort study of 14,541 pregnant women in Avon found that depression symptoms were higher at 32 weeks of pregnancy than 8 weeks postpartum, but there was no difference in the distribution of total scores or individual symptoms across the four time points. The study used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to measure depression symptoms, with a threshold of 12 indicating probable depressive disorder. The results showed that 13.5% of women had probable depression at 32 weeks of pregnancy, 9.1% at 8 weeks postpartum, and 1.6% throughout. More mothers moved above the threshold for depression between 18 weeks and 32 weeks of pregnancy than between 32 weeks of pregnancy and 8 weeks postpartum. The study concluded that symptoms of depression are not more common or severe after childbirth than during pregnancy. Research and clinical efforts should focus on understanding, recognizing, and treating antenatal depression. The study also found that depression during pregnancy is common and that antenatal depression may have important effects on the uterine environment. The results suggest that childbirth is less likely to be followed by depression in women who are not depressed, and more likely to be followed by improvement in women who are depressed. The study highlights the importance of screening and treating depression during pregnancy, particularly for women with severe depression. The study also notes that the consequences of antenatal depression are not well understood and that further research is needed to explore the effects of antenatal depression on the child. The study emphasizes the need for a working environment and incentives that encourage the use of clinical outcome indicators to improve continuous quality improvement.