The Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women's Mental Healthhas published an article called "Examining Modifiable Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression". Theywrite about a study that tooka look at which risk factors might be changed or modified to reduce the risk that you might suffer postpartum depression after having a baby.

Some things you can't change of course. Your ethnicity. Your finances. Your medical history. But other postpartum depression risk factors you have could potentially be positively impacted.

"The authors report that while some factors associated with depressive symptoms in the postpartum period are 'fixed,' such as race and past history of depression, some factors are potentially modifiable, such as level of social support and perceived self-efficacy around caring for an infant. The authors conclude that while more research is required, it is possible that intervening on these modifiable factors before the postpartum period could lessen the severity of depressive symptoms, or prevent their occurrence altogether, particularly among women at higher risk."

Better education. More support for new moms. There you have it.

For more information on risk factors for postpartum depression, click the link.