Grant: Operating Grant - PA: Regional Partnership Program - Saskatchewan

This study is a follow-up of the Feelings in Pregnancy and Motherhood Study (FIP), funded by Canadian Institutes for Health Research in 2005-2008. We screened 648 women for anxiety, depression, and mood problems in early pregnancy, late pregnancy, and again in early postpartum. We also collected sociodemographic, behavioural, and birth outcome information. Over 400 of the eligible mother/child pairs (those who completed all parts of Phase I) have agreed to participate in this second Phase. The 2 main aims of this study are: a) to understand the effects of a mother's mental health in pregnancy and after delivery on her child at age 3 and 5 b) to better understand women's anxiety, depression, and mood 3 and 5 years after giving birth. Using questionnaires will assess development, behaviour, and readiness for school in each child. We will follow the depression, anxiety, and mood status of the mother. Over 100 of the children have already turned 3. This allowed us to test our study design and tools. We know that our planned Phase II is acceptable to the women, realistic for our research team, and that our budget is accurate. We will continue to reach out to our FIP participants to join the study and will maintain contact through birthday cards to the child each year. We have an enthusiastic research team and women prepared for this next phase of the FIP study. We believe our study will inform health policy and health care practices related to identifying and treating maternal mental health problems, but also improve the identification of young children who may be at risk for health problems related to their mother's mental health.