A large study published September 1, 2026, in JAMA Network Open found that babies born to mothers who screened positive for depressive symptoms right after delivery had a higher risk of dying before their first birthday. It is an important finding, and it is also easy to misread. Here is what the researchers found, what the study cannot tell us, and what it means for families.
What the Study Found
Researchers at Rutgers School of Public Health used New Jersey birth records from 2016 to 2020 linked to death records through 2021. New Jersey requires hospitals to screen new mothers for depression before they go home, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the score is recorded on the birth certificate. That gave the team screening results for an entire state’s births, not just the people who were diagnosed.
- The study included 414,890 infants. About 3.8% of their mothers scored 10 or higher on the EPDS, the threshold New Jersey hospitals use to flag possible depression.
- 906 babies (0.2%) died before age 1.
- The infant death rate was 7.2 per 1,000 births when mothers had depressive symptoms and 2.0 per 1,000 when they did not.
- After accounting for age, race and ethnicity, education, insurance, income and other factors, the risk of infant death was 2.89 times higher for babies of mothers with symptoms.
- The link held across racial and ethnic groups, education levels and insurance types, and for four leading causes of infant death: prematurity-related conditions, other perinatal conditions, birth defects and chromosomal conditions, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
What the Numbers Mean in Real Terms
“Nearly three times the risk” sounds frightening, so it helps to look at the absolute numbers. Even among mothers with depressive symptoms, more than 99 out of every 100 babies survived their first year. Infant death remains rare. The study’s model estimated the probability of death at about 0.6% for babies of mothers with symptoms, compared with 0.2% otherwise.
That difference matters at a population level, and it is a strong signal for health systems. For an individual family, it is not a prediction.
What the Study Does Not Show
This was an observational study, so it shows an association, not proof that depression causes infant deaths. The authors are clear about the limits:
- The arrow may point both ways. A mother who knows her baby was born early or with a serious health problem may understandably score higher on a depression screen. When the researchers also adjusted for preterm birth, low birth weight, smoking, substance use and other health risks, the association was smaller, about 2 times the risk, though still clear.
- Some things couldn’t be measured. Factors like social support, stress, housing or access to care may affect both depression and infant health.
- It is one state. New Jersey’s results may not apply everywhere, and about 8% of birth records had no screening score.
- Screening happened only at the hospital. Many people develop postpartum depression weeks or months later, which this study could not capture.
The authors say the mechanisms are unknown. Possibilities they raise include physical effects of depression during pregnancy, effects on infant care and health care visits, and shared social and economic pressures.
Why Screening Matters
The main message from the researchers is about care, not blame. They call expanding maternal depression screening and treatment critical for the health of both mothers and babies. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics already recommend screening during pregnancy and after birth, but the authors note that only 8 states mandate it, and that a positive screen does not always lead to treatment.
If you screen positive, that is a starting point for support:
- Ask what happens next: a follow-up evaluation, a referral or a plan to check in again.
- Tell your baby’s pediatrician too. Pediatric visits are frequent in the first year, and pediatricians can screen parents.
- Remember that postpartum depression is treatable, with therapy, medication or both.
You can take the EPDS or PHQ-9 on this site in a few minutes and bring the result to your provider.
If You Are Feeling Guilty Right Now
If you had symptoms of depression after your baby was born, this study is not a verdict on you or your parenting. Depression is a health condition, not a choice, and most babies of mothers with depression are healthy. The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is get support.
Find a therapist who specializes in postpartum depression
Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), free and available 24 hours a day. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
Learn more about postpartum depression, its signs and the latest statistics.
Sources
- Woofter R, McGovern ME, Abe N, Rokicki S. “Perinatal Depression and Infant Mortality.” JAMA Network Open. 2026;9(9):e2631364. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.31364.