Effects of maternal depression on the baby
After 9 months of waiting, finally, the baby is born and the mother feels sad. Why? An emotional slump where there should be happiness in having given birth, is the signal that indicates something is not right. And is thatOne in two women who have just given birth feel the so-called postpartum depression or baby blues.
Maternal depression is a mild and transient depression caused by several factors such as: hormonal changes, physical fatigue, biological factors, trauma, loss and stress, which should not be confused with postpartum sadness.
How postpartum depression affects the baby
There is a link between mother and child, and the symptoms of depression in mothers can affect the establishment of affective bonds between both, affecting the cognitive, emotional and physical development of the baby. When suffering from depression, the mother can reach:
- Not being emotionally available to cover all the needs of the baby.
- Having difficulties when interpreting the baby's messages properly and, therefore, giving wrong answers to their needs.
- Not knowing how to take care of the baby's health.
Fight maternal depression
The discomfort after childbirth, the visits, the crying baby These are some things that can overwhelm the mother during these days. Although the best thing is not to worry too much, since the symptoms usually remit after 7 or 10 days. Even so, there are a series of guidelines you can follow to help combat them from the beginning:
- Do not worry about losing weight. It is normal for mothers to be overwhelmed when losing weight and recover their previous size after pregnancy. It will take a while to recover the previous weight. Do not diet unless recommended by your doctor. If you do, Thins without stress.
- Trust your doctor. Any task to be performed with the baby becomes a stressful situation for the mother. From breastfeeding, cutting the baby's nails, curing the cord everything can become a mountain, but if you count on your doctor, you will help that the doubts do not invade you and to move away the restlessness.
- Eat nuts. The nuts are very rich in magnesium: essential mineral that will help to recover strength and to raise the mood.
- Increase consumption of bluefish. They are a great source of Omega-3, beneficial against anemia and depression.
Causes postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is a normal reaction, and there are several reasons for this sudden drop in mood:
- Tiredness after the stress suffered by childbirth.
- The concern for the responsibility acquired and the fear of not doing it well. The best way to avoid these fears and fears is the information and preparation received during pregnancy.
- Hormonal change. It is the most influential cause. After childbirth the level of two hormones that have provided energy during pregnancy, progesterone and estrogen are altered, and this sudden drop can affect mood as it does in the days before menstruation. Increase the mood is easy, another hormone, oxytocin, appears to bring comfort to the breast or simply to caress and pamper the baby.
Noelia de Santiago Monteserín
