Scripted for Her: Postpartum Care and Mental Health

Scripted for Her, a podcast offering from Drug Topics hosted by Natalie DiPietro Mager, PharmD, PhD, MPH, professor of pharmacy practice at Ohio Northern University, aims to help pharmacists provide comprehensive care and continuity of care for patients. Each episode will discuss a key topic in the women’s and maternal health spaces, giving pharmacists actionable advice that can improve patient outcomes.

Postpartum health is a critical period for new mothers, extending from birth to up to a year afterward. This period involves complex physical, emotional, and social transitions that significantly impact maternal well-being.

Maternal mental health is particularly crucial, with 1 in 5 women experiencing postpartum mood disorders.¹ These can range from mild "baby blues" to more serious conditions like postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. The potential consequences of untreated mental health issues are significant, including risks to the mother's and child's long-term health.

Resources such as Postpartum Support International and national maternal mental health hotlines provide critical assistance, offering information, support, and connections to local services. These platforms help bridge potential health care access gaps, particularly in regions with limited medical infrastructure.

The complexity of postpartum health demands a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach. Health care providers, including pharmacists, are crucial in recognizing, screening, and supporting new mothers through this transformative period, ultimately promoting long-term maternal and child health.

In this episode of Scripted for Her, Natalie sits down with Lindsay Ferraro, PharmD, associate professor of pharmacy practice at Ohio Northern University, to discuss the postpartum period, the pharmacists during this period, postpartum mental health disorders, and emerging treatment approaches.

Be sure to tune in every month on Drug Topics for critical conversations that will help you provide better care to your patients at all stages of life. All episodes of Scripted for Her will be available in video format via DrugTopics.com, with an audio version available through Spotify.

READ MORE: Women's Health Resource Center

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Reference

1. Maternal mental health conditions and statistics: an overview. Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. October 10, 2024. Accessed July 8, 2025. https://www.mmhla.org/articles/maternal-mental-health-conditions-and-statistics