Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Postpartum Depression: A Retrospective Case-Control Study on A Significant Sample of Mothers in Northern Italy

The present study compared a group of women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic with a group of women who gave birth in the antecedent period, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) questionnaire. The results show a significant increase in the risk of developing postpartum depression and an increase in the use of epidurals in women who have given birth during the pandemic period. These findings are indicative of the impact the pandemic has also had on the childbirth experience.