Prepartum, Postpartum, and Chronic Depression Effects on Newborns

Abstract

In order to assess the effects of the onset and chronicity of maternal depression on neonatal physiology, eighty pregnant women were assessed for depression during mid-pregnancy (M gestational age = 25.9 weeks) and shortly after delivery. The women were classified as reporting depressive symptoms 1) only during the prepartum assessment; 2) only during the postpartum assessment; 3) during both the prepartum and postpartum assessments; or 4) reporting no depressive symptoms at either the prepartum or the postpartum assessment. Maternal mood and biochemistry were assessed during pregnancy, and the EEG and biochemical characteristics of their 1-week-old infants were assessed shortly after birth. As predicted, the newborns of the mothers with prepartum and postpartum depressive symptoms had elevated cortisol and norepinephrine levels, lower dopamine levels, and greater relative right frontal EEG asymmetry. The infants in the prepartum group also showed greater relative right frontal EEG asymmetry and higher norepinephrine levels. These data suggest that effects on newborn physiology depend more on prepartum than postpartum maternal depression but may also depend on the duration of the depressive symptoms.

Depression during gestation in adolescent mothers interferes with neonatal neurobehavior

“…Newborns of mothers with antepartum and postpartum depressive symptoms exhibit high urine cortisol and norepinephrine levels, low dopamine levels, electroencephalographic frontal asymmetry, and lower vagal tone. 14,15 They also spend more time in deep sleep and less time in quiet and active alert states, with more state changes and worse performance on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (NBAS). 15 Van der Wal et al showed that depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress during gestation are associated with excessive infant crying.…”

Repeated long separations from pups produce depression-like behavior in rat mothers

“…Cognitive effects on children experiencing maternal depression have been documented across childhood (Brennan et al 2000;Cogill et al, 1986;NICHD Early Child Care Research Network 1999). Physiological consequences for children of depressed mothers include less weight gain in the first 2 yr of life (Hendrick 2003;O'Brien et al, 2004), elevated cortisol and norepinephrine, and lower dopamine levels (Diego et al 2004;Halligan et al, 2004). Unfortunately, there are at present no animal models of maternal depression.…”

Emotional memory in pregnant women at risk for postpartum depression

“…Women have approximately a 50% higher risk of developing depression postnatally than at any other time in their lives (Vesga-Lopez, Blanco, Keyes, Olfson, Grant, & Hasin, 2008). PPD is associated with higher rates of hospitalization, and increased risk of maternal suicide and infanticide (Comtois, Schiff, & Grossman, 2008;Diego, Field, Hernandez-Reif, Cullen, Schanberg, & Kuhn, 2004;Lindahl, Pearson, & Colpe, 2005). Studies have shown that children of depressed mothers have reduced cognitive, emotional, and social skills and display an insecure-avoidant attachment to their mother (Brand & Brennan, 2009).…”