POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND THE EFFECT ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This literature review provides an overview on postpartum depression and the effect on child development. Postpartum depression is incredibly common and often gets mistaken for “baby blues,” though the effects of postpartum depression are more severe. Several risk factors have been identified and include prenatal attachment, length of labor, prenatal anxiety, and romantic relationship quality. Another study discussed the importance of the mother having a confidant, whether that relationship is romantic or not. Several pathophysiological mechanisms have been implicated in relation to postpartum depression but the pathways often overlap with stress and major depression. Postpartum depression has many detrimental effects on the children of the affected mothers. Short term effects at one year of age include lower motor and mental developmental skills. Long term effects at four years of age include increase in chronic and acute diseases and lower scores in communication, gross motor, and personal social skills. Mothers who have been treated for postpartum depression showed lower levels of parenting stress but had no change in how they view their child two years post-treatment. As of now, there is only one medication that is FDA approved which treats PPD and it was recently approved in 2019. Further research must be conducted on other treatments and the long-term effects of them.