In the US, the COVID-19 pandemic adds a new source of stress for women in the perinatal period, a time when stress and anxiety are already heightened. The closures of physical mental health care spaces and lack of support could have devastating impacts on the health of postpartum women and their newborns. Yet, the pandemic creates an opportunity to innovate in the ways mental health care is delivered to pregnant and postpartum women. With the expanded capacity for video and telephone visits, researchers should continue to explore solutions for providing support networks to this vulnerable population.
Keywords: Covid 19; Perinatal depression; Perinatal mental health; Pregnancy.