How does postpartum depression affect child development?

Answer

A large body of literature suggests that a mother's attitude and behavior toward her infant significantly affects mother-infant bonding and infant well-being and development. Postpartum depression may negatively affect these mother-infant interactions.^{[2, 68]}

Mothers with postpartum depression are more likely to express negative attitudes about their infant and to view their infant as more demanding or difficult. Depressed mothers exhibit difficulties engaging the infant, either being more withdrawn or inappropriately intrusive, and more commonly exhibit negative facial interactions. In addition, mothers with symptoms of depression are more likely to discontinue breastfeeding earlier in the postpartum period.^{[69, 70]}These early disruptions in mother-infant bonding may have a profound impact on child development.^[71]

Children of mothers with postpartum depression are more likely than children of nondepressed mothers to exhibit behavioral problems (eg, sleep and eating difficulties, temper tantrums, hyperactivity), delays in cognitive development, emotional and social dysregulation, and early onset of depressive illness.^[49]Furthermore, children of depressed mothers have been shown to have slightly increased weight gain at 6 months of life, which may be predictive of increased risk of obesity later in life.^[72]

As previously stated, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has stated that more than 400,000 infants are born each year to depressed mothers. Due to the potential negative effects of postpartum depression on mother-infant bonding and infant well-being and development, the AAP has encouraged pediatric practices to create a system to better identify postpartum depression in order to ensure a healthier parent-child relationship.^[73]

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Author

Saju Joy, MD, MS Associate Director, Division Chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Medical Center

Saju Joy, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Patricia J Mattingly, MD Clinical Instructor, Resident Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Hilda B Templeton, MD Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Honorary Attending Physician St Barnabas Medical Center; Private Practice

Hilda B Templeton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Christine Isaacs, MD Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division Head, General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Director of Midwifery Services, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Christine Isaacs, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Stephen A Contag, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Institute for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Stephen A Contag, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Suzanne R Trupin, MD, FACOG Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign; CEO and Owner, Women's Health Practice; CEO and Owner, Hada Cosmetic Medicine and Midwest Surgical Center

Suzanne R Trupin, MD, FACOG is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American Medical Association, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and North American Menopause Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

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