Pregnancy is a process through which a new life is brought into the world. In most situations it is perceived as a joyful moment, full of happiness, excitement and anticipation. The focus is on this little human being who grew up in the womb and who will soon fill your life with love, joy and happiness. Unfortunately, however, there are also times when pregnancy can cause anxiety and depression. Instead of moments of excitement and joy, there are moments filled with worry, panic and sadness. When someone suffers from depression and/or anxiety there is a possibility that these symptoms will increase during pregnancy or suddenly become prevalent during pregnancy. “Mood and anxiety disorders in pregnant and postpartum women” are a reality that requires attention in the medical field. It is important that medical personnel are able to identify and treat women who may be at risk of anxiety and depression during pregnancy or after giving birth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Typically, women seek medical care when they become pregnant, and medical care lasts throughout the pregnancy and typically sometimes beyond the pregnancy. Being a nurse in the medical field and working with pregnant women puts you in a wonderful position to help meet not only the medical needs, but also the emotional needs of their patients. As stated in the AWONN position statement, “All pregnant and postpartum women should be screened for mood and anxiety disorders.” The article states that approximately 10-20% of women experience some type of mood disorder during pregnancy and/or the postpartum period. “As a result, these conditions are the most common complication of childbirth.” There are physical and emotional symptoms that women suffering from anxiety and depression have to deal with, which could cause long-term effects on themselves and even their unborn child. Research is an ever-evolving science, and studies have been conducted on depression in pregnant and postpartum women. It is very important that nurses are aware of the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression and are able to identify the signs and offer education, support and options for an expectant or new mother. Research is important throughout the anxiety and depression treatment process. Unfortunately, “research is limited regarding the treatment of perinatal mood disorders other than depression” and research “… regarding the treatment of perinatal anxiety disorders is in its early stages.” “AWONN supports the implementation of laws, policies and public health initiatives that help increase awareness, remove stigma, reduce barriers to treatment, and expand research related to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.” This is important as patients' emotional and mental well-being impacts not only the patients we treat as expectant mothers, but also the unborn child and other family members. Anxiety and depression are still relatively new topics that patients feel comfortable talking about and acknowledging as part of their lives. Depression and anxiety not only affect the patient, but can have medical and emotional effects on the fetus, and family members can also be affected. As a nurse, being able to implement a screening and understand possible concerns related to anxiety and depression in the patient will make the nurse's work more effective. The nurse is typically the person who will spend the most timetime with the patient and who the patient will learn to trust and feel very comfortable with. Being able to assess for possible depression and anxiety can provide the opportunity to provide training, options and information to other medical personnel. Implementing risk factor screening is important for all childbearing families, for their health and safety. Postpartum depression can affect all mothers who are carrying a child. Postpartum depression may be more common if the mother has a history of anxiety, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Any woman, any race and social class can and can be affected by postpartum depression. Many studies have been conducted on the impact of postpartum depression (PPD) and depression and the role they play on the patient, the unborn child and other family members. When depression is a cause for concern, a broad continuum of symptoms should be assessed. From withdrawal and lack of contact with the child to suicidal or homicidal thoughts and everything in between. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a screening tool often used to assess depressive symptoms. While this scale is a good assessment for depression, “there are questions about whether a total score or subscale score of the EPDS is more accurate in detecting anxiety.” In many situations where the EPDS is used for screening, anxiety is not indicated. Recommendations have been made about using the GAD-7 as a separate screen, but "there is no standard recommendation or screening tool." It is obvious that limited tools exist to screen for depression and especially anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women. This is a problem because studies have shown that there are harmful risk factors for children whose mothers suffer from depression and/or anxiety. “A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 9 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression. The prevalence of anxiety disorders during pregnancy and the early postpartum period is not well known, but studies suggest that perinatal anxiety is much more prevalent than depression.” There are many risk factors associated with untreated depression and anxiety. “Various studies indicate that women who experience clinically significant anxiety symptoms during pregnancy are more likely to have preterm labor and low birth weight babies, as well as other complications, including preeclampsia.” There are concerns about postpartum anxiety and a mother's ability or desire to want to bond with her baby, which can also cause long-term effects. “A recent narrative review describes numerous studies illustrating the negative effects of postpartum anxiety on bonding, breastfeeding, infant temperament, early childhood development, and conduct disorders.” As a nurse who spends the majority of time with the expectant mother, it is vitally important to be able to adequately assess, monitor and support her during pregnancy and after, to effectively help her overcome any depression or anxiety she may have. Nursing practices could be improved by developing better screens to assess depression and anxiety and be able to prevent any long-term problems for the mother and baby. “Maternal depression is a serious mental illness that not only affects the affected mother, but also affects the fetus and child.” Many studies have been conducted on the impact of postpartum depression (PPD), depression and the role it plays on the patient, the unborn child and other family members. When depression is a cause for concern, it is.