Warning for Mothers: Postpartum Depression May Continue for up To 3 Years From the Child’s Birth

The study of 5,000 women by the National Institute of Health has found that approximately one in four experienced levels of depressive symptoms at some points in the three years after delivery after giving birth.

Reports on the research specified, the rest of the women experienced low depression levels throughout the span of three years.

The research was conducted by the scientists at the Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or NICHD of the NIH. It was also published in the Pediatrics journal.

In relation to the study findings, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that pediatricians screen mothers for possible postpartum depression "at one, two, four, and six months" from giving birth.

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Postpartum Depressive Symptoms Identified

In this study, investigators detected four routes of postpartum depressive symptoms, as well as the factors that may increase the risk for elevated symptoms in women.

Additionally, the findings proposed that extending screening for symptoms of postpartum depression for at least two years after giving birth may bring benefits.

According to the study's primary author Diane Putnick, Ph.D., also an NICHD Epidemiology Branch staff scientist, their research specifies that six months may not be long enough to measure depressive symptoms.

These long-term data, Putnick explained, "Are key to improving our understanding of a mother's mental health," which, she said, they know is crucial to the wellbeing and development of the child.

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Postpartum in Women with Underlying Conditions

The study investigators evaluated data from the Upstate KIDS study, involving babies born from 2008 to 2010 from more than 50 countries in the New York State. Specifically, the research followed 5,000 women for three years from their respective children's birth.

As indicated in the study, the authors evaluated the symptoms of women through a brief, "five-item depression screening questionnaire." However, the said work did not clinically detect depression in women.

Consequently, women who had underlying conditions, including mood disorders and, or gestational diabetes, were more likely to experience higher depressive symptoms levels that persisted throughout the period of the study.

The study authors noted that the volunteers of the study were primarily non-Hispanic, white women. Relatively, Putnick said, future studies need to include a more diverse, broad populace to offer more inclusive data on postpartum depression.

Postpartum Depression Symptoms

Articles on postpartum depression specify that the condition may commonly be mistaken for baby blues, initially. However, the signs and symptoms are stronger and longer-lasting.

They may eventually interfere with the mother's ability as well, to care for the baby, and handle their everyday tasks.

Furthermore, symptoms typically develop within the first couple of weeks from giving birth, although they may start earlier during pregnancy or later up to one year from childbirth.

Signs and symptoms of postpartum depression may include severe mood swings, struggle in bonding with the baby, excessive crying, loss of appetite, feeling overwhelmed, intense anger, loss of energy and fatigue, trouble sleeping, withdrawal from family, friends, and relatives, restlessness, feeling worthless and panic attacks, among others.

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