Causes of Post-Natal Depression
Giving Birth to Male Infants May Trigger the Baby Blues
Jun 11, 2008
Researchers from the Universite Nancy 2 in France have discovered a new theory about the causes of post-natal depression. Plus, here's hopeful information about how the baby blues affect breast feeding.
In 2007, researchers found that severe post-natal depression is the strongest in women after they delivered male babies (which doesn’t necessarily mean that male babies cause post-natal depression. A correlation between post partum depression and male infants doesn't prove a causal link between the two).
These researchers found that the mothers who gave birth to male babies had a markedly decreased quality of life, as compared to women who gave birth to female infants. Not surprisingly, a decreased quality of life can lead to feelings of post partum depression.
Researching the Causes of Post-Natal Depression & Male Babies
In this study of the baby blues, participants scored eight health dimensions on a validated questionnaire. Physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, mental health, emotional role, social functioning, vitality, and general health were measured. Women without post-natal depression had the highest quality of life scores. Mothers of female infants had higher quality of life scores even if they struggled with post-natal depression (because female babies don't provide immunity to depression).
“When we launched our research, our main aim was to study the effect that gender has on post-natal depression,” said Professor Claude de Tychey. “But the overwhelming finding of the study was the fact that gender appears to play a significant role in reduced quality of life as well as an increased chance of severe post-natal depression.”
The Link Between Male Infants & the Baby Blues
What’s the connection between male babies and post partum depression? It’s not the cultural pressure of having a boy – past studies have revealed that post-natal depression is higher in communities that place greater value on sons, but this particular French community welcomes both female and male babies. It’s not the experience of starting a family that triggers post-natal depression; these women had the same general scores regardless of whether this was their first or second child. Professor de Tychey says that further research is needed to unravel the connection between male babies and post-natal depression.
Breast Feeding & Post-Natal Depression
Recent studies have shown that mothers struggling with post partum depression can successfully breastfeed (disproving earlier theories that women struggling with the baby blues can't breastfeed as well). Further, breastfeeding can improve mom’s ability to nurture, satisfy, and connect with their babies. Breastfeeding can help new mothers feel more confident and create positive relationships with their babies, which can help lift post-natal depression.
“Post-natal depression is very common and poses a major public health problem, especially if it is not diagnosed and treated,” says Professor de Tychey. “We believe that our findings have important public health consequences, as they point to the need for developing prevention and early psychotherapeutic programs for women giving birth to boys.”
If you found Causes of Post-Natal Depression helpful, you might try:
Sources: Blackwell Publishing. (2008, February 13). Male Births Are More Likely To Reduce Quality Of Life And Increase Severe Post-natal Depression.
University of Leicester (2007, July 25). New Study Examines Breast Feeding And Post Natal Depression.
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