Unplanned fatherhood is linked to an increased risk of postnatal depression in both parents and behavioral problems in the offspring, researchers report.
Younger mothers, first time moms, and women who give birth to twins are at the highest risk of developing postpartum depression, a new study reports.
Pregnant women with a history of migraines are at greater risk of both prenatal and postnatal complications. A new study found migraine sufferers are at increased risk of hyperlipidemia and gestational diabetes during pregnancy, and postnatal depression following the birth of their child.
Study reveals one in four women experience symptoms of depression up to three years after giving birth. The risks are greater for women with a history of mood disorders and gestational diabetes.
Prenatal depression can have a significant influence on a child's brain development and behavior. Greater symptoms of prenatal depression were associated with weaker white matter connections between areas of the brain involved in emotional processing. The weakened white matter connectivity was linked to increased aggression and hyperactivity in male children. The change could lead to dysregulated emotional states in children and explain why children whose mothers experienced PND are more prone to developing depression later in life.
Adolescents and adults whose mothers experienced depression, either during pregnancy or shortly after, had a 70% increased risk of being diagnosed with depression.
Women who experience postpartum mental health problems such as depression and anxiety following the birth of their first child are 31% less likely to have more children.
Women who are given a general anesthetic during a cesarean section delivery have a 54% higher risk of developing postpartum depression. The odds of suicidal thoughts or self-inflicting injury increased to 91%. The study points to a potential protective effect on mental health for regional anesthesia during cesarean section compared to general anesthetic.
Mothers on the autism spectrum are more likely to report symptoms of postnatal depression than mothers who do not have ASD.
Inflammatory factors appear to contribute to pregnancy-related depression onset and severity. Researchers found elevated levels of IL-6 and IL-8 and reduced levels of IL-2 in blood samples taken from blood samples of pregnant women who reported symptoms of depression. Additionally, they found serotonin was drastically reduced.
Chronic stress during pregnancy increases neuroinflammation. The immune changes may create circumstances in the brain, which increase susceptibility to postnatal depression.
Suicides and overdoses made up almost 20% of postpartum deaths in Californian women between 2010 and 2012.
