American and British researchers say that women who experience depression during and after pregnancy are more likely to develop depression in their children. Study results indicate that physicians need more effort to treat mothers to deal with prenatal and postnatal depression. Experts also say that a healthy family environment and lifestyle can reduce the risk of depression when they grow up in such children. The findings of the research are also worrying because children whose mothers had experienced perinatal depression have a 70 percent higher risk of developing depression when they are adolescents and adults than other children. This is the conclusion of a new study published in JAMA Network Open.

6 percent higher risk in girls

In the study, researchers from the United Kingdom and North America examined data collected from about 16,000 maternal-child couples. Children were 12 years of age and older. The study found a 6 percent higher risk of depression among adolescents than mothers whose mothers had perinatal depression. The results of the study may help in further research on Depression Risk Transmission from mothers to children and to reduce the assessment of risk reduction resulting from depression. This helps physicians reduce the risk of depressive disorders during pregnancy in women and children.

What causes perinatal depression?

Psychologist and psychiatric pediatrician Dr. Rosin Capanna-Hodge says that it is not enough to know about Perinatal Depression, there is still a lot of mystery to be revealed. Perinatal depression warns about antenatal depression during pregnancy or postnatal depression occurring within 12 months after pregnancy. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, this mood disorder can range from mild to severe and can also be curable. Dr. Rozin said that during prenatal and postnatal life we ​​expect that the baby will be healthy, but despite all efforts, 60 to 80 percent of women who have recently given birth have a very high risk of postpartum depression. While 10 to 20 percent of mothers may have clinical postpartum depression (mental disorder). The trouble is that most women do not recognize these symptoms of depression during pregnancy. In some women, after delivery, they feel guilty for the child with sadness and sorrow, when they themselves were very desperate for this child.

What do experts say on research findings?

The experts were not surprised at the conclusion of the research. Dr. Alexandra Stockwell says that our culture avoids motherhood from appreciating her emotionally, physically and spiritually and this feeling becomes a burden on women when they become mothers. We still do not understand the importance of mother, this creates challenges for both mother and child. The mother’s perinatal depression acts as an effect of her nutrition. All mammals, including humans, learn through imitation. Our children learned all kinds of things from their parents. This learning process starts at a very young age. We understand some of these and some things we do not control. Perinatal and postpartum depression of the mother is also similar which starts affecting children from a very early age, even though there is no history of depression or any mental disorder in the family. Dr. Rozin says that studies have proved that the mother’s interactions have a profound effect on children, also how sensitive a mother is to her child’s reactions. It has a significant effect on brain health. In particular, research has shown that when infants try to connect with their depressed mother, they respond indifferently and flatly, preventing their correlation with the infant, and this response is the reason for the child’s mental disorder or depression. It is made. Depression of the mother impedes the emotional development of the infant.

Can reduce the risk in this way

Nearby biological and environmental factors can affect our mental health, especially during physical changes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Can seek the services of a physician trained in perinatal depression and child development who can train parents. Experts point out that the same measures can usually be applied to reduce the risk of depression in adults that help reduce the risk of maternal depression. This means adequate sleep, complete nutrition, activity, staying hydrated, spending time between nature and having a colleague or professional present to help when needed. There are other measures that can be adopted.

Stay away from risk related to labor

For screening of symptoms of depression during pregnancy, women obtain information about the history of mental health disorders from their parents and adults and identify their individual risk factors based on it. Talk to family members and pay special attention to common depression disorders such as mood and anxiety. Similarly, take full care of psychotherapy and medicines to treat postpartum depression. The new mother should have full support at home and care should be taken to take care of her and her food. Because when the mother is taken care of, the mother’s ability to take care of her baby increases.

Identify the symptoms of depression in children

Actually, knowing the signs of depression reduces the risk. Depression does not always appear the same way at different stages of age. It unfolds differently in every age. Children’s emotions and behaviors tell a lot about their depressive symptoms. Recent research has shown that identifying and relieving early symptoms of depression can help youth and adults reduce their risk of suicide. Experts have described the following symptoms of depression according to age-
Newborn and early infancy (age -0 to 5 years)
Insomnia, loss of appetite and reduced activity and prolonged sadness or irritability.
Childhood
-Incredibility, lack of self-esteem and lack of self-expression
– Body troubles such as headaches, stomach ache or feeling ill, talking tantrums or other behavioral problems

Adolescence
– Do not mingle with adults despite being an adult, but spending time with close friends
Emotional changes expressed through irritability or anger in adolescence, staying depressed or mood swings
Complaining of poor sleep, limited sleep and sleeping at different times
Adult
-Display emotions usually with sadness and swing mood
Sleepiness and irritability
-Also and keeping distance from others
See a psychiatrist if you feel anxious or nervous