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Description

Purpose: One in five pregnant women in the United States experience a maternal mental health condition. Within Utah from 2018-2022, during pregnancy, 22.7% of women experienced depression and 31.6% experienced anxiety, and 15.1% experienced postpartum depression. These data represent a prevalence higher than the national average. Third trimester ultrasound (TTUS) is not a standard of care performed in the United States currently. Previous TTUS research has mainly focused on the financial burden and birth outcomes rather than maternal mental health. Literature on first trimester ultrasound has demonstrated a notable impact on maternal mental health, but these outcomes within the third trimester and after birth are limited. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of TTUS on mental health outcomes for expectant mothers.

Methods: Pregnant women will be recruited from Utah and will complete the informed consent process. TTUS will occur after 28 weeks of gestation at the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. The subjects will complete the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and the MSPSS during the ultrasound appointment, 6 weeks postpartum, and 6 months postpartum. Statistical analysis will employ multivariate repeated measures ANOVA to determine the impact of the third trimester ultrasound on maternal mental health outcomes.

Results: Work in Progress: We hypothesize that individuals who receive a third trimester ultrasound will exhibit decreases in standardized mental health scores compared to baseline.

Conclusion: Work in Progress: We aim to prove there is an improvement in maternal mental health with routine third trimester ultrasounds.

Disciplines

Medical Humanities | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Research Methods in Life Sciences

Keywords

Third Trimester Ultrasounds, Pregnancy, Maternal Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, Postpartum Depression

Document Type

Poster

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Effect of Routine Third Trimester Ultrasounds on Maternal Mental Health in Low-Risk Population in Utah

Purpose: One in five pregnant women in the United States experience a maternal mental health condition. Within Utah from 2018-2022, during pregnancy, 22.7% of women experienced depression and 31.6% experienced anxiety, and 15.1% experienced postpartum depression. These data represent a prevalence higher than the national average. Third trimester ultrasound (TTUS) is not a standard of care performed in the United States currently. Previous TTUS research has mainly focused on the financial burden and birth outcomes rather than maternal mental health. Literature on first trimester ultrasound has demonstrated a notable impact on maternal mental health, but these outcomes within the third trimester and after birth are limited. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of TTUS on mental health outcomes for expectant mothers.

Methods: Pregnant women will be recruited from Utah and will complete the informed consent process. TTUS will occur after 28 weeks of gestation at the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. The subjects will complete the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and the MSPSS during the ultrasound appointment, 6 weeks postpartum, and 6 months postpartum. Statistical analysis will employ multivariate repeated measures ANOVA to determine the impact of the third trimester ultrasound on maternal mental health outcomes.

Results: Work in Progress: We hypothesize that individuals who receive a third trimester ultrasound will exhibit decreases in standardized mental health scores compared to baseline.

Conclusion: Work in Progress: We aim to prove there is an improvement in maternal mental health with routine third trimester ultrasounds.