Objectives: Suicide is the leading cause of maternal mortality in high-resource countries. The onset of suicidal ideation is a major risk factor for suicidal behavior. Suicidal ideation impacts the mother-infant relationship and the child’s development. The primary objective of the study was to identify factors associated with suicidal ideation during the perinatal period among women hospitalized in specialized units. The secondary objectives were to describe this specific population and to develop an interview framework to assess risk factors for suicide and refer patients to existing perinatal support services.Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study conducted at a specialized hospital involving women hospitalized during the perinatal period between 2014 and 2019. The inclusion criteria were: being pregnant or in the postpartum period within one year of delivery and being between 16 and 43 years of age. Electronic medical records were retrieved using a keyword search.Results: The sample included 25 pregnant patients and 57 postpartum patients. A history of psychiatric disorders increased the risk of suicidal ideation by a factor of 4.38 (p < 0.03). One-third of the patients had a reason for admission related to suicidal ideation. Less than one-third of the patients were referred to existing perinatal psychiatry services.Conclusions: Suicide prevention during the perinatal period is a priority; special attention must be paid to women with a history of psychiatric disorders. Care provided by teams specializing in perinatal care is essential.