Child birth may elicit a depressive episode in vulnerable women. According to studies, 10 to 15 per cent of new mothers are at risk of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is associated with decreased maternal health as well as developmental and behavioural problems for the child later in life.

Montreal researchers have found evidence that suggests a link between postpartum depression and how omega-3 fats work with a gene that regulates ‘feel good’ hormone serotonin. ‘The literature shows that there could be a link between pregnancy, omega-3 and the chemical reaction that enables serotonin, a mood regulator, to be released into our brains,’ lead author Gabriel Shapiro said. ‘Many women could bring their omega-3 intake to recommended levels,’ she added.

Fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, herring, etc. are great sources. A form of the fatty acid called the ALA is found in soybean, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, spinach, walnuts and salad greens.

Maternal omega-3 levels decrease during pregnancy, and remain lowered for at least six-weeks following the birth. Shapiro said. This is because omega-3 is transferred from the mother to her foetus and later to her breastfeeding infant. Besides, most people do not consume sufficient amounts of omega-3.

‘So much of what we know about postpartum depression has to do with risk factors that are difficult, if not impossible to change – things like socioeconomic status, personal history of depression or genetic exposures. So this seemed like an exciting risk factor to explore,” Shapiro of the University of Montreal and the Research Centre at the Sainte-Justine Mother and Child Hospital said in an interview.

‘These findings suggest that new screening strategies and prevention practices may be useful,” Shapiro said. More research is needed to make any kind of dietary recommendations, Shapiro warned.

The researchers examined the medical literature for studies on omega-3 fatty acids and postpartum depression in conjunction with a gene known as the 5-HTT gene for their study.

Researchers led by Benedetta Leuner, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Ohio State University, were specifically interested in dendritic spines — hair-like growths on brain cells that are used to exchange information with other neurons. The dendritic spines increased by about 20 percent in these brain regions in new mothers, according to her findings.

Previous animal studies conducted by Leuner at Ohio showed that an increase of dendritic spines in new mothers’ brains was linked with improved cognitive function on a task that requires behavioural flexibility – in essence, enabling more effective multitasking, according to an Ohio statement.

The stress in this new study negated those brain benefits of motherhood, causing the stressed rats’ brains to match brain characteristics of animals that had no reproductive or maternal experience.

The stressed rats also had less physical interaction with their babies than did unstressed rats, a behaviour that is observed in human mothers who experience postpartum depression.

‘Animal mothers in our research that are unstressed show an increase in the number of connections between neurons (brain cells). Stressed mothers don’t,’ said Leuner. 

These findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience 2012 in New Orleans, US.

Source: IANS

When compared with two other groups of first-time pregnant mothers, who did not have the mindfulness training, these women reported more well-being and positive feelings and less emotional distress. “They had higher self-esteem and life satisfaction during this period of their pregnancy and up to at least a month after birth,” Langer said. “And this also had a positive impact on their deliveries and overall health of the newborns.”

Teaching mindfulness through attention to variability may be helpful for many disorders, including asthma, depression and learning disabilities, to name a few, according to Langer. Author of the popular books ‘Mindfulness’, ‘The Power of Mindful Learning’, ‘On Becoming an Artist: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity’ and most recently ‘Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility’, Langer is known for her work on the illusion of control, aging, decision-making and mindfulness theory.

Source: IANS

Some women however take longer to recover and suffer more severe symptoms. They exhibit suicidal tendencies, frequent bouts of crying sleep disturbance, weight loss, a feeling of guilt and a general lack of interest in their surroundings

A small number of women suffer from a condition called postpartum psychosis. It’s a grave condition and results in hallucination, delusion and obsessive thoughts particularly involving the baby. It’s very important to seek immediate medical help if you or anyone close to you exhibits any of these symptoms.

Source: Health Guru