Depression during and after pregnancy is prevalent among women, and, if left untreated, can have serious health consequences for both women and their babies, according to a trio of speakers at today's opening ceremonies of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' 58th Annual Clinical Meeting (ACM). The President's Program featured two of the country's leading experts on women's mental health and a former First Lady of New Jersey, who suffered postpartum depression (PPD) with both of her pregnancies.

"As ob-gyns, if we can focus more of our attention on the emotional and psychological health of our patients during pregnancy and postpartum, I believe our specialty can have a positive and significant impact on the overall health and well-being of women everywhere," said Gerald F. Joseph, Jr, MD, president of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "I'm so passionate about postpartum depression that I've made it the theme of my presidential initiative and a major focus of the ACM's scientific program this year."

Read More: Perinatal and Postpartum Depression a Top Priority at Annual Conference of Ob-Gyns