In Babies and more We have touched on the issue of postpartum depression multiple times. For those who suffer from it, motherhood can become a negative experience and unfortunately, there are still many taboos around this type of depression. But nevertheless, It is extremely important that we continue talking about it, to generate more awareness and thus be able to help women who suffer from it more effectively.
A new study found that postpartum depression affects much more than we thought, since it could be extended up to 11 years after having a baby and even affect their behavior, causing them behavioral problems, among other things.
The study
In a research published on the JAMA Psychiatry website, researchers were given the task of searching and analyzing the relationship between the different levels and persistence of postpartum depression, with the effects that it could have in the long term on the children of women who suffered it.
To carry out this study, information from a longitudinal study in the United Kingdom was used, in which 9,848 women participated, and postpartum depression was divided into three thresholds: moderate, notable and severe, based on the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression (EPDS) scale, which is used by medical professionals to detect possible postpartum depression in recent mothers.
In Babies and more Mothers who go through an unplanned caesarean section would be more likely to suffer from postpartum depression: study The women who participated were on average 29 years old when they had their children and were evaluated to identify symptoms of postpartum depression when their children were 2, 8, 21 and 33 months and later at 11 years of age.
Depression was considered "persistent" when his EPDS score was higher than the thresholds marked at 2 and 8 months after delivery. In addition to the EDPS score trajectory, the behavior problems of children at 3.5 years of age, severe math problems at 16 years and depression at 18 years were examined. In total, the duration of the study was almost seven months.
The results of the study indicate that, compared to the children of mothers with postpartum depression that was not persistent and was classified as moderate to severe, the children of women with persistent and severe postpartum depression They had a higher risk of presenting behavioral problems when they reached 3.5 years of age, as well as having lower grades in mathematics and presenting depression during adolescence.
In addition, it was found that women whose postpartum depression was persistent, had more likely to suffer significant symptoms of depression up to 11 years later Having had your children.
For researchers, this means that women with severe and persistent postpartum depression should have priority to receive treatment, because it is very possible that they continue to experience high levels of depression, and for all the consequences that this can have on the development of their children in the long term.
Why it is important to talk more about postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is a very serious issue and it is up to all of us to attend. Being an invisible disease, for many people it goes unnoticed when someone suffers from it. Also, that belief that when we become mothers we must always be radiant with happiness, it makes it very difficult for those with depression to approach for help.
A few months ago, we were sharing precisely one study that had found that one in five recently concealed mothers suffering from depression or postpartum anxiety, by not revealing this information to medical staff in the post-birth consultations of their babies.
In Babies and more "Stop saying you didn't know, because she told you," a mother's post about postpartum depression And this is worrisome, since when postpartum depression is not detected and allowed to continue moving forward, it can have tragic consequences. Therefore, it is extremely important to keep talking about her, continue studying and looking for strategies to treat it, and that in this way, mothers have the necessary support to overcome it more easily.
How to help a mother with postpartum depression
If you are wondering what you can do or how you could support a mother with depression, I recently shared an article in which she mentioned some actions that seem simple but that can make a difference, how to let her know that you don't judge her, show her that she is not alone and simply, accompany her even if you cannot fully understand what is happening to her.
It is important that the family and the couple support mothers with postpartum depression, because Having a support network is one of the best tools to overcome it.
In Babies and more Women who give birth to children are more likely to suffer postpartum depression Photos | iStock
Via | Reuters
In Babies and more | Postpartum depression is more frequent than you imagine, but it has a solution. You can do a lot for it: how to help a mother with depression, Seven phrases that you should not say to a mother with depression (and other phrases that you do)
