The Hidden Struggle of Postpartum Depression Among Bay Area Latinas

Listening to her daughter’s sweet voice brings an instant smile to Stephany's face.

It’s a joy that came after processing many emotions after becoming a mother.

<Stephany Coronado, mother> I remember it as the happiest moment when my daughter was born. It was the most wonderful moment of my life. And it was also the saddest moment when you discover that a part of you changes and you are no longer the same as before being a mother.

Two years ago, she gave birth. Stephany compares it to a movie.

<Stephany Coronado, mother> In those movies where it's like sunny all day but it is grey. It was sadness, fear and at times, desperation, like this need of what else do I have to do, what do I need to do, that I can't rest?

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Stephany Coronado: "I remember it as the happiest moment when my daughter was born ... And it was also the saddest moment when you discover  your life has changed.

She believed she was experiencing “baby blues,” a condition that affects 75% of new mothers and begins almost immediately after giving birth. Something that could be anticipated, but not extended. (text - national library of medicine)

<Dra. Katherine Bianco, high-risk obstetric specialist at Stanford Children’s Hospital> the first two weeks it's normal, but if that feeling of not being happy, of feeling sad, of not wanting to get out of bed, of not wanting to eat and sometimes not wanting to be with the baby, it's important to recognize that this could be postpartum depression.

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Dr. Katherine Bianco, Stanford Children's Hospital

Doctor Katherine Bianco explains that cases of postpartum depression in Latinas are on the rise, according to research.

And this is backed by statistics that reflect an increase of more than double between 2010 and 2021. (graphic - source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology)

In fact, according to a study conducted by the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 40% of Latinas experience a mental health disorder after giving birth, such as depression, compared to white mothers. They attribute this in part to the women's socioeconomic and immigration status. (graphic – source journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 2016)

Therefore, Doctor Bianco says it's important not to miss your postpartum appointments.

<Dr. Katherine Bianco> it's important to go to the appointments at six weeks because that's when you're no longer pregnant, you have a newborn, we do a physical and mental exam. We will see what your needs are. If postpartum depression is occurring, we will detect it at that time.

Stephany went to her appointment and despite feeling different, at that time she didn’t identify with any symptoms.

<Stephany Coronado, mother> yes, there was a follow-up, but it's not like questions or things like symptoms of 'Hey, do you feel anxious, do you feel scared, do you feel this...?'

Time passed and doubts increased, without knowing who to tell.

<Stephany Coronado, mother> But what kind of help do I ask for? Who do I ask for help? Who is there to support me? What happens to my child if I ask for help? Do they consider me capable of taking care of my child after I say that?

<DRA. Katherine Bianco> it’s totally normal to have that fear if I say that I don’t feel well, that I don’t want to be with the baby or something, they’re going to take it away from me. In reality, no, it’s really a disease that is curable. What we need is to seek help to prevent something really bad from happening. Because those who don't recover from depression can attempt to take their own lives or the lives of others.

The mental health stigma in the Latin community is still palpable, and especially the pressure that many mothers feel today.

<Stephany Coronado, mother> from the moment your baby is born, the mother is expected to be at her best. If your baby is healthy, you have to be happy, and you know that if you’re not well, how can you not be well if your baby is well?

But it's not always like this and that fear of being judged is one of the factors that keeps them silent.

And another factor is transculturalization, according to the doctor.

<Dr. Katherine Bianco, high risk obstetric specialist at Stanford Children’s Hospital> not having your children from where you're from, from the country you are not from, but having them in another country, where suddenly you no longer have the same ability to have an aunt, a grandmother, a cousin, but you are more alone.

It's a situation that Noemi knows.

<Noemi Perez> I am alone, I am a single mother. I was afraid with my baby it was complicated

She migrated from Guatemala two years ago, and her daughter was born a month ago.

In search of help, she was referred to Birth Companions Community Center, where she found a safe place.

<Noemi Perez> I didn't know what to do, sometimes I cried with her (baby), I'd breastfeed her and she didn't want to feed, I’d change her and she didn't want to be changed. The people at the center helped.

She refers to doulas.

<Jeny Trejo, co-founder of Birth Companions Community Center, ancestral director> we are doulas we help mothers during their pregnancy, in childbirth and after childbirth.

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Jeny Trejo, Founder, Ancestral Director, Birth Companions Community Center

Telemundo 48

Help before, during and after, including the "cuarentena," the 40-day period in which the mother focuses on recovering.

According to the California Health Care Foundation, mothers are increasingly interested in the care provided by doulas. They indicate that 57% of women have expressed interest, 39% would consider it, and 18% definitely wanted help. (graphic - California Health Care Foundation)

Since 2023, Medi-Cal expanded access to doula services, through fee-for-service and through managed care plans.

And there are centers like the Birth Companions Community Center, where help is free. Even though they depend on limited donations. 

<Jeny Trejo> Our doulas have had that training to detect those signs that sometimes the mother does not realize that she is beginning to have postpartum depression. We know that if mom is well, the baby will be well too.

Jeny is co-founder of the center. They teach classes, workshops and measures that can help reduce the risk of postpartum depression and manage initial symptoms.

<Jeny and Miryam walking> this is a space for when a mother comes with postpartum depression, or needs to be heard, we bring her here in private, so she can sit down, we can talk, we can chat about what she needs.

Teresa is also a doula. She says that the current political environment, the immigration changes and the fear among the community has influenced fewer mothers coming forward. So they want to raise awareness.

<Teresa Hernandez, doula of Birth Companions Community Center> A doula feels like a cousin, a sister, an aunt. This person is with them, really, that is holding their hand and understanding what they are going through. 

<Miryam> What does a doula mean to you?

<Noemi Perez, mother> A doula is like a second mother.

Noemi feels like family here, and ready to be a mother for her daughter.

<Noemi Perez, mother> The best thing is to have my baby, i'm going to fight for her. 

A path that also continues for moms like Stephany.

And although the treatment for postpartum depression varies, like medication, therapy, and support groups; what helped her was the virtual community she found.

<Stephany Coronado, mother> I joined these groups on these apps for help for mothers, and there were many communities of mothers going through the same thing. You don't feel the intense pressure anymore, it's not just me, there are several of us. We are together in this and we will overcome it.

Enjoying every moment now in this new stage of life. 

<Miryam Villarreal> What would you say to Stephany from a few years ago?

<Stephany Coronado, mother> That's a good question, I'd tell her: it does pass. You do get to the end of the tunnel, you see the light and everything goes back to how it was before, not exactly how you remember it, but it goes back to how it was before and you're fine, you're fine, your daughter is fine, and you're happy... I don't know, I would hug her. 

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This project was supported by the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, and is part of "Healing California," a yearlong reporting Ethnic Media Collaborative venture with print, digital, podcast and broadcast outlets across California.