Lately postnatal depression has a growing prevalence, in part because of a rise in awareness in the general population and also, the medical staff.

The present research was intended to assess the predictive value of obstetrical and neonatal parameters in postnatal depression.

A 2 year nonconsecutive cross-sectional survey was performed on 163 women between 6 to 8 weeks after delivery, monitored in Obstetrics Outpatient Department of Bega Clinic Timisoara and Resita County Hospital. Postnatal depression was assessed by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale using a cut-off > 13. Also, obstetrical and neonatal data were collected from medical records of new mothers, using also information gathered from the mothers and the medical care staff. A binary logistic regression on aforementioned parameters was performed to determine their predictive role on postnatal depression.

The rate of postnatal depression was in concordance with data existing in international literature (N= 39; 23,93%). Among the obstetrical and neonatal parameters that have had a predictive contribution on the postnatal depression occurrence, it has been found the following: the parity (OR = 0.506; 95%, CI: 0.315 – 0.812; p = 0.005); prematurity (OR = 6.079; 95% CI: 1.326 – 27.886; p = 0.012); and the presence of complications during pregnancy (OR = 7.544; 95% CI: 1.791 – 31.779; p = 0.004).

In our research, some of the obstetrical and neonatal parameters proved to be predictive factors in postnatal depression, thus enabling to detect new mothers at high risk for depression.