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. Read More
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. Read More
Adolescents and adults whose mothers experienced depression, either during pregnancy or shortly after, had a 70% increased risk of being diagnosed with depression. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
Mothers on the autism spectrum are more likely to report symptoms of postnatal depression than mothers who do not have ASD. Read More
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. Read More
Chronic stress during pregnancy increases neuroinflammation. The immune changes may create circumstances in the brain, which increase susceptibility to postnatal depression. Read More
Suicides and overdoses made up almost 20% of postpartum deaths in Californian women between 2010 and 2012. Read More
Women who suffered from eating disorders are at increased risk of developing depression during pregnancy and up until 18 years after the birth of their child. Read More
People are more likely to diagnose symptoms of postnatal depression in women over men, new findings report. When presented with information relating to the mental health of new parents, people associated postnatal depression symptoms in men with stress and tiredness. Researchers state the need for greater awareness of paternal postnatal depression. Read More
A newly developed drug can help combat the effects of postnatal depression. Read More
