As we’re becoming more open to discussing mental health issues, we’re learning so much on the effects of depression. Most times though we don’t look at it from a pregnant woman’s perspective. Apart from postpartum depression, her unborn baby can be at risk if she goes through depression before delivery.
10 to 15 percent of women suffer from prenatal depression. Studies have shown a definitive link between stress in women and the impact on the brains of the foetus. How the unborn baby develops in the womb affects their growth & development later in life. The scientific term for this is foetal programming. Babies born to depressed mothers are at a greater risk of mood disorders in their adulthood.
Depression during pregnancy increases the risk of the baby being born underweight, preterm, or even the mother suffering a miscarriage.
A mother’s mood can affect the function of her placenta. If she’s more anxious, the levels of the stress hormone cortisol increase. The development of her baby’s brain will very likely be affected by being exposed to more cortisol. Stress, anxiety or depression in a pregnant woman can lead to epigenetic changes in her child.
Newborns of depressed moms also show significantly higher levels of the stress hormones compared to those born to healthy mothers.
If you or your loved one is suffering from prenatal depression, talk to a healthcare professional on treatment options. Weigh the risks of medication before settling on a prescription drug. Nonmedicinal treatment such as walks, exercise, yoga, therapy also help to alleviate depression.
