The Postpartum Depression Can Affect Child Development

The mood of a depressed new mother can affect the development of her child for several years, result from a work at Concordia University in Montreal and at the American University of Iowa.

Postpartum depression can happen anytime within the first year after childbirth. A woman may have a number of symptoms such as sadness, lack of energy, trouble concentrating, anxiety, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. Postpartum depression often affects a woman’s well-being and keeps her from functioning well for a longer period of time and needs to be treated by a doctor. Counseling, support groups, and medicines are things that can help.

The study, led by David Forman, a professor of psychology at Concordia University, shows that the success of psychotherapy in a depressed mother is not enough to protect its relationship with the baby, and that his first impressions compared to his newborn can survive for years.

Researchers say that their results are important because they show that depressed mothers are more likely to perceive their babies wrong and find them difficult.

The work focused on 157 mothers, six months after childbirth. Two-thirds who were suffering from postpartum depression have benefited from a short psychotherapy, which proved very effective in relieving depression.

However, despite their recovery, their sensitivity towards their babies did not automatically improved and they have continued to try very hard.

The depressed mothers also felt that their children were less committed to them.

According to the researchers, these results are particularly worrying since it show that the link between mother her child remains and
marked by a postpartum depression and child development will be affected. The researchers believe, however, that some of these difficulties can be overcome.

The study, published in the spring edition of the journal Development and Psychopathology, "reveals that a rapid response, before the mother is convinced that her child is difficult, and adding a treatment accompanied by parental assistance can promote child development.

After childbirth, 70 to 80 % of women experiencing extreme fatigue called "baby blues". Mixed feelings of depression, anxiety, anxiety and guilt, this condition can last several days, but gradually fades. However, between 6 and 10 % of new mothers develop a more severe postnatal depression, a form of major depression for which treatment is necessary.