Postnatal Depression more than double the risk for parents of very premature

The birth of any child is a miracle, but for parents of the 1 in 10 (9%) babies born prematurely, it can be a traumatic journey. New research reveals that parents of very-preterm babies are 2.5 times more likely to suffer postnatal depression. While one in five parents still show symptoms of depression and anxiety six months after birth. In fact, a third of fathers experience high rates of depression, while half suffer from elevated anxiety levels.

Extremely premature babies can have life-long health issues. Photo: AAP Source: AAP