Postpartum depression affects a large number of new mothers

Jan 6, 2014 09:27 GMT  ·  By

A group of investigators from Finland determined in a new scientific study that would-be mothers who fear giving birth to their children are more likely to develop, and suffer from, postpartum depression after they do give birth. The findings may highlight a new way to go about treating this condition. 

Postpartum depression is a condition where new mothers become depressed after parting with giving birth. The phenomenon is relatively widespread, and can lead to suicides in some extreme cases. Doctors have been trying to find a way of treating this type of depression for several years.

What the new Finnish study uncovered was that women who feared childbirth were three times as likely to develop depression later on than women who did not fear giving birth naturally. Details of the research were published in a recent issue of the scientific journal BMJ Open, PsychCentral reports.

While women with previous depression diagnostics remain at very elevated risks of developing postpartum depression, the research team uncovered that even women with no prior history of depression were 300 percent more likely to develop the disorder after childbirth if they feared it.

According to official statistics, anywhere between 50 and 80 percent of all women who give birth naturally go through a state colloquially called the “baby blues,” where they are very likely to experience a wealth of emotions, ranging from restlessness and irritation to anxiety and tearfulness.

While most of these cases fix themselves within a few months, some women can go on to develop more severe conditions, such as postpartum depression and psychotic depression. Both these disorders have the potential to affect the bond between mother and child, with potential long-term consequences for the infants.

In the new study, researchers looked at mothers who gave birth between 2002 and 2010. The team found that 0.3 percent of these women had developed postpartum depression. In the case of women who were already diagnosed with depression before birth, the incidence jumped to 5 percent.

In addition to fear of childbirth, other factors influencing the chances of postpartum depression setting in include undergoing a Caesarean section, delivering the child ahead of term, and giving birth to a child with major congenital anomalies.