Relationship Between Previous Elective Abortions and Postpartum Depressive Reactions

To test the hypothesis that primiparas who have had a previous elective abortion will have a higher incidence of depressive reactions postpartum than will primiparas who have not, 48 women pregnant for the first time and 25 who had had one abortion were interviewed six to eight weeks postpartum. No significant difference in the incidence of depression between the two groups could be found. In addition, when associations between their mean depression scores and other variables such as planned pregnancy, preferred infant sex, identified obstetrical problems, help at home, experiencing the baby blues, and an identified recent sad life event were calculated, no significant differences were noted. Spontaneous comments from the previously aborted women suggested that anxiety during pregnancy concerning the infant's health was a greater source of discomfort than was postpartum depression.