Prenatal depression also affects the baby, according to a study

Babies begin to be affected by maternal depression even during pregnancy. A study published last week in JAMA Network Open pointed out that women of the generation millenium – ] Persons born between 1980 and 1995 – are more likely to suffer from depression during pregnancy than women of previous generations. Now, another unprecedented study indicates that the symptoms of the disease can make babies more susceptible to stress. The results were published this Wednesday in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.

The team of King's College London, England, followed 106 pregnant women from the 25th week of gestation; 49 of them were diagnosed with depression but did not take any medication to treat the disorder. To test whether participants had clinical symptoms of the disease – inflammation and increased production of cortisol (stress hormone) – samples of blood and saliva were collected.

The first discovery was also made during pregnancy monitoring: the gestation period of women with depression is shorter. On average, babies were born eight days earlier than pregnant women who did not have the disease.

According to scientists, the release of cortisol and other stress signals present in the blood of the pregnant woman crosses the placenta and passes into the baby's blood, so that they already felt the effects of maternal depression in the uterus. After the birth, the researchers followed the behavior of the babies to check the release of cortisol, hormone released in situations considered a threat or a great discomfort.

Sensitivity to Stress

After delivery, infants whose mothers had shown signs of prenatal depression were more hyperactive, in tears, and produced cortisol in situations where other children (born to mothers who did not have the disease) seemed normal. "In terms of behavior, on the sixth day after birth, infants whose mothers had depression were more hyperactive and responsive to sound, light, and cold, and it was harder to comfort them and to appease them, "said Carmine Pariante, one of the authors of the research, at BBC News Brazil .

Other saliva tests were done at the second month of life. one year (soon after the first vaccine) for comparison. The results showed that during the first injection experience, children of mothers with neonatal depression were more stressed, releasing many more stress hormones . According to Pariante, children born to healthy mothers did not show any change in cortisol at the time of injection, which meant it was not a stressful time for them

"The release of cortisol itself is not bad stress.It gives energy to the muscles and increases brain concentration.But the results of the research show that babies of mothers who suffered depression during pregnancy are particularly sensitive to stress, a situation that would be normal for other infants may be difficult for these infants, and they respond by activating the stress response. "

He further points out that in the face of this sensitivity, children are at risk for develop psychological problems or even depression in the future face situations of sadness, loss of loved ones, or suffering, as intimidation on

. Biological Psychiatry in 2016, pointed out that depression during or after pregnancy can lead to a reduction in the thickness of the cortex (outer layer of the brain responsible for thoughts and behaviors complex) in children of preschool age. According to researchers at the University of Calgary, Canada, women with more severe depressive symptoms tend to have children with frontal and back pain. thinner temporal regions; these areas are involved in tasks that involve inhibition and control of attention.

The analysis also showed that these associations were only found when the symptoms appeared in the second trimester and postpartum, suggesting that these periods are particularly critical. development of the infant brain. "Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring and supporting mental health in mothers, not only in the postpartum period but also during pregnancy," Catherine Lebel, lead author of the # 39, study, in a report

[19459108] For Rebecca Pearson, lead author of the study on millennials and prenatal depression, some specific factors may stimulate higher rates of depression among younger generations, such as increase in female labor force which is putting pressure on young women to reconcile family and career; and Social Media and the Internet which can lead to social comparisons and information overload.

Other important factors are the financial pressures including the price of housing and the need for income. maintain the standard of living; reduced family and community support, as well as increased pressure to maintain successful relationships, may also become risk factors for the development of depression during pregnancy.

According to the author of the new study About one in ten pregnant women suffers from depression. This is why it is necessary to seek treatment. For him, the taboos on depression and the romanticization of pregnancy must be overcome and women must seek help to prevent their children from suffering from the problem.

Few Studies

Although depression is already considered the disease of the century and is affecting more and more younger generations millennial few studies have been done to determine the best treatment during pregnancy. In addition, many researches point out that antidepressants can also alter the behavior of infants, however, with the new study, the question arises whether the effect is due to the drug or the disease itself.

Many depressed women do not take their prenatal properly and may still adopt harmful habits, such as smoking and drinking, as well as taking over-the-counter medications.

Since antidepressants can lead to behavioral changes in infants, non-drug treatments may be an alternative to fight depression during pregnancy. It should be mentioned that the treatment decision should be well informed, so that the mother and the doctor reach the alternative deemed more appropriate.