Study Finds Link Between Depression and Premature Babiesby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 24 Oct 2008 07:33 AM
The study from Kaiser Permanente surveyed hundreds of pregnant patients during their early weeks of pregnancy, using a questionnaire that measured depressive symptoms. Almost half of the women showed severe or significant symptoms of depression. Depression in women who are expecting is more common than you might think. It is a treatable condition, and women should be aware that ignoring the symptoms may very well lead to to premature delivery, according to the study. Premature babies are at risk from an entire range of health issues. Even a birth a few weeks early can put a baby at risk for conditions such as jaundice and infections. Pregnant women who shows signs of severe depression are twice as likely to deliver a baby prematurely, compared to women with no sign of depression, the study reveals. It is not clear how the two conditions are related. Does the depression cause the premature births, or is there some underlying problem that may be leading both to depression and premature delivery? The only thing the study shows for sure is that a link between depression and premature delivery exists. Pregnant women who suffer depression face a difficult world. Most people expect a pregnant woman to glow and be happy, so when the mood doesn't match the expectation, it can make things worse for the expectant mother. Add in physical symptoms such as morning sickness, exhaustion, and hormone changes. These can all affect the mood of a woman in pregnancy. Concerns about the health of the baby, especially if there is a history of miscarriage can also contribute to the situation. Women who feel blue or have symptoms of depression during pregnancy should seek medical care. If not for themselves, then for their baby. As mentioned before, depression, even in pregnancy, is very treatable. Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans. Babies Are Most Likely to Get Bitten By a Dog Three States Request Volunteer Ban of BPA in Baby Products House Approves Legislation for Tougher Toy Standards Home Product Recall: July 17, 2008 New Children's Vitamin D Recommendation May Require Supplements Fans May Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Link Between Second-Hand Smoke and Allergies
Just look to the right of this blog and find the subscription center (it looks just like this picture, although you'll have to find the "real" one just above the category listing ). Click on "Subscribe via Email". You'll be instantly subscribed and the email address that you registered at Families.com with will receive an instant notification whenever we post a new Baby Blog! Don't miss a thing - subscribe now! Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantbaby tags User Comments  drnewmom (307) 24 Oct 2008 09:46 AMHmm.... I was severly depressed for 3-4 months of my pregnancy and was just starting to feel back to normal when I delivered at 26 weeks. I am newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I think the depression came on with the sudden stoppage of my meds (we weren't trying to get pregnant and they weren't safe for the baby). I was actually in the middle of a psychotic episode when I went into labor (they didn't believe that I was in labor) in the psych ward. Any yes, we have discussed the case with a lawyer. Anyhow, they never found a reason for the premature labor, but that study does interest me--thanks for bringing attention to it.  Mary Ann Romans (26876) 24 Oct 2008 11:11 AMWow what an interesting story. You must be such a strong person. Please keep me updated.  Kara |
Baby categories |
Are you subscribed to the Families.com Baby Blog? With the click of a button, you can receive an email notification anytime a new blog is posted in the Families.com Baby Blog!
