Effects Of Depression During Pregnancy On Children Essay

Segre, A. R. (n.d.). Perinatal Depression: A Review of U.S. Legislation and Law. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3725295/

Postpartum psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, has become the most underdiagnosed complication in the United States. It can lead to increased costs of medical care, inappropriate medical care, child abuse and neglect, discontinuation of breastfeeding, and family dysfunction and adversely affects early brain development (Earls, 2010). Over 400,000 infants are born to mothers that are depressed. One of 7 new mothers (14.5%) experience depressive episodes that impair maternal role function. An episode of major or minor depression that occurs during pregnancy or the first 12 months after birth is called perinatal or postpartum depression (Wisner, Chambers & Sit, 2006). Mothers with postpartum depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may make it difficult for them to complete daily care activities for themselves or for others (Postpartum Depression). The six stages of postpartum are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance and PTSD. These stages may affect any women regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or economic status. However only a physician can diagnose a woman with postpartum depression. It does not occur because of something a mother does or does not do, it’s a combination of physical and emotional factors. After childbirth, the levels of hormones in a woman’s body quickly drop; which may lead to chemical changes in her brain (Postpartum Depression). Unbalanced hormones may trigger mood swings.

According to the North Carolina Clinic, they have a research program to understand why women go through depression during pregnancy, and after childbirth. The research program

Despite the physical changes that a woman is to expect during her pregnancy, a major concern that requires attention is a period of expected feelings of depression that a woman may encounter known as baby blues. Although normal, and expected baby blues can lead into post partum depression that involves a myriad of emotions and mood swings. If not addressed postpartum depression can lead to a more severe form of baby blues known in the clinical world as postpartum non-psychotic depression that requires professional intervention. The therapeutic goal during this time is to prevent the new mother from committing suicide where she poses a danger to both herself and her newborn.

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 20 people suffer from depression (2014). Although widely recognized and somewhat easy to diagnose, depression is an ignored and almost hidden, disease. In women, the statistics are especially grim for those who are pregnant or were recently pregnant. A great number of women suffer from postpartum depression; an illness which is often overlooked, misdiagnosed and untreated. Postpartum depression (PPD) has been defined as an emotional disorder that occurs in an estimated 10-15% of all women after childbirth (Liberto, 2010). Postpartum depression not only impacts the mother, but can cause long-term psychological challenges for the baby and create emotional turmoil for all family members.

Postpartum Depression is important because too often it affects the mother, her spouse, and the newborn child. This affects the relationship between the mother and child based on Erikson’s Psychosocial developmental Theory and the idea of trust vs. mistrust. If the child’s basic needs are not met that could lead to mistrust, anxiety, and insecurities. This could also lead to Reactive Attention Disorder, where the neglect a child experiences leads to difficulty making relationships. It’s also found to be more likely in mothers of colicky babies because if the child cries a lot the mothers are less likely to make an emotional connection.

Postpartum depression has some risk factor, and a study showed that a poor sleep during the third-trimester of pregnancy is a risk factor for postpartum depression, which is related with the age of the women (Wu 2014).Furthermore, Jomeen and Martin also found that during pregnancy the first three trimester are very important because according to the PSQI test poor sleep increase the symptoms of postpartum depression(2007).Also, another study showed that poor sleep habit has a stronger correlation with depressive symptoms (Goyal 2009). Additionally, women who had a history of previously depression are more likely to have postpartum depression (Kettunen 2014). This depression is a concern because women with postpartum depression show less early interactions with their infants than women who are not depressed (Field 2010). Under these circumstances postpartum depression not only affect the mother but also her

The birth of a baby can trigger powerful emotions such as joy, excitement, maybe some fear and anxiety. But it can also trigger something you did not expect –depression. The depression is called postpartum depression, or also known as postnatal depression, it’s a type of depression that can affect both the mother and the father. This is most likely to happen after giving birth or up to a year later. But it usually occurs within the first three months after delivery. Postpartum depression doesn’t actually have a specific cause but it is mostly caused by the anxiety of the responsibilities of parenthood. (Mayo Clinic Staff)

Infants can ultimately have developmental delay. Postpartum depression has long term effects on children of depressed mothers. The impact can extend up to puberty. Children will experience feelings of insecurity, poor social skills, reduce verbal and cognitive skills (Earls, 2010). Children will end up with more behavioral problems, conduct disorders, depression and anxiety. Timely identification and management of maternal depression is important for the child’s early brain development and school readiness. The negative effects of the long term exposure to maternal depressive symptoms in early childhood is concerning. Early intervention will help both the mother and the child (Horwitz, Briggs-Gowan, Storfer-Isser, & Carter, 2009).

The birth of a baby can generate powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also result in something unexpected, depression. Postpartum depression affects approximately 10-15% of women and impairs mother-infant interactions that in turn are important for child development. Postpartum depression is sometimes mistaken for baby blues, but the signs and symptoms are more intense and last longer, eventually interfering with a mother’s ability to care for the baby and handle other daily tasks. Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth, but may begin later and up to six months after birth. Postpartum depression isn 't a character flaw or a weakness, it 's simply a complication of giving birth. More than half of all mothers experience a period of “baby blues” in the first few weeks after delivery, when they feel significant sadness, exhaustion, fear, and mood instability. More often than not, this experience resolves on its own, especially in the presence of good social supports. Nevertheless, there are times when the “baby blues” don’t go away in just a few weeks and it sometimes progresses into an episode of major depression, with more severe and more persistent symptoms. As many as 1 of every 8 mothers are reported to develop an episode of major depression in the month immediately following delivery, though the Diagnostic and

Introduction: Pregnancy and postpartum are considered as high risk periods for the emergence of psychiatric disorders. Postnatal depression (PND) is one of the most common psychopathology in these phases. PND describes non-psychotic depressive episodes, with loss of interest, insomnia, and loss of energy experienced by mothers within the period of 4 to 6 weeks after delivery [1]. A wide range of PND prevalence (10-42%) has been reported across the globe [2-11]. It is considered a serious public health issue because of its devastating effects on mothers, families, and infants or children [12]. Accurate estimates of PND prevalence are difficult to obtain as cultural norms may affect women’s reporting of their symptoms and

It is estimated by the American Psychiatric Association that 14% to 23% of women experience depression during pregnancy (Miranda, Chung, Green, Krupnick, & Belin, 2003). Various studies demonstrated that depression during pregnancy is related to poor birth outcomes, specifically preterm birth, low birth weight, or intrauterine growth restriction (Grote et al., 2010). The effects of depression are more prevalent for those of a lower socioeconomic status (Grote et al., 2010). Overall, it is approximated that these depressive symptoms increase the risk of PTB, LBW, and IUGR by

In the article, “ Preventive Effects on Birth Outcomes: Buffering Impact of Maternal Stress, Depression, and Anxiety, “ by Ian M. Paul, we learn that Depression is a disease. It’s not caused by personal weakness and it not a character flaw. There is well-supported theory about the“ cause “ of depression in terms of the brain biochemistry.

In many conditions the mother faces depression when told she is pregnant which can lead to abortion. During a study performed by the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, it was found that “40–45% of women experience high levels of anxiety between the diagnosis of pregnancy” (263). In addition to feeling anxiety when they are pronounced pregnant, many continue to have emotional distress. Canário, Figueiredo and Ricou found “20% of women are reported to experience high levels of depression” during the pregnancy or after the pregnancy has been terminated (263). Depression and anxiety have many consequences for the body of an expectant mother and the potential child. This depression can last for longer than a few months after the mother

A mother who struggles with depression post-partum is likely to expose her baby to more harmful effects. Gerhardt (2015) states that the baby of a depressed mother can find it difficult to cope with or get over stress, or they may be more fearful (p. 21). These babies also may respond to others with depression themselves, as their mother may be neglectful in their care (Gerhardt, 2015, p. 36). One of the reasons for this is because of their cortisol levels, which can fluctuate situationally. However, in infants this can affect their development (Gerhardt, 2015, p. 83) as well as their immune system (Gerhardt, 2015, p. 118), and is evidence that a mother with depression can have a significant impact on her child well beyond when the depression occurs. Additionally, Gerhardt (2015) notes that, “When they grow up, these babies of depressed mothers are highly at risk of succumbing to depression themselves.” (p.