MACON, Ga. — Being a new mom can be stressful, but it’s important to know when you need help. According to the CDC, as high as 1 in 5 women suffer from mental health issues after giving birth.
Dr. Jennifer Barkin, an Associate Professor of Community Medicine at Mercer University, has two children of her own.
"I think for me it was that realization that, 'Oh my god, I now have two kids that I am responsible for,'" Barkin said.
She knows firsthand the stress motherhood can have, especially in the first year after the child is born.
"For me, it was more of an anxiety. Very nervous about keeping healthy, having life insurance lined up. If something happens to me, what happens to these kids," recalled Barkin.
She's always had empathy for new moms, which is why she developed the 'Barkin Index.' It's a method that assesses functioning in new moms.
"Women don't present for treatment wanting to get a different score on the depression index, they want to function better," Barkin said.
The 20-question index is useful to new moms for up to two years after childbirth. It asks mothers how much they agree with simple statements about their competency and their needs.
Mothers rate the statements on a scale of 0-6. Total scores range from 0-120 -- with 120 presenting perfect functioning.
"The strongest use right now is in research studies, so, how much did the score change over time given that these women were being treated," said Barkin.
If you are having post-partum problems, the test result could be helpful to a social worker or therapist in formulating a treatment plan.
"Women need to be more aware when they're approaching burnout," Barkin said.
For more information on the assessment, go to her website.
If you are a mom looking for support, Postpartum Support International has a Georgia chapter that you can call to get a name of a counselor, and they also have a lot of resources that are free, including counseling. You can call them at 1-800-944-4773, or check out their website.