The series showed that maternal mental illness is much more common and varied than previously thought. — About half of major postpartum depression cases actually begin during pregnancy. — Women can develop psychiatric symptoms months after the official window of four to six weeks after childbirth. — These illnesses often involve multiple disorders, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. — Untreated symptoms can affect children’s emotional and cognitive development. — Scientific underpinnings are complex. Many cases seem to spring from nowhere. — Health providers often fail to detect trouble early or ensure that women get help. The stories required months of sensitive reporting and blended medical reporting with on-the-record stories of women who suffered maternal mental illness and experienced devastating symptoms.
