A study published in BMC Pregnancy Childbirth evaluated the impact of midwife-led psychosocial counseling with family support on postpartum depression and maternal functioning among 56 first-time mothers in Tehran, Iran. Participants, aged 15-45, were randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which received three 120-minute counseling sessions with a family member present, or a control group that received standard postpartum care. The sessions were conducted at three intervals: 3-5, 15-30, and 42 days postpartum.

Results showed that while depression scores decreased in both groups over time, the differences were not statistically significant. However, maternal functioning improved significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group. The study suggests that midwife-led counseling can enhance maternal functioning during the early postpartum period, although it did not significantly reduce depressive symptoms. The authors noted that longer follow-up or more intensive interventions may be needed to address postpartum depression effectively. The study is registered with the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry.