Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes A Baby's Brain

Postpartum depression can have serious consequences for the health of both mother and child. Indeed, a recent study of 10, 000 postpartum women found 19.3% of women with postpartum depression had considered hurting themselves (5). In the United Kingdom suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the postpartum period (6). Even in less severe cases, postpartum depression may compromise caregiving practices (e.g., are less likely to use car seats, breastfeed, or ensure that their child receives up to date vaccinations); (7;8) and maternal-infant bonding (e.g., are less responsive to their infants, engage in less face-to-face interactive play and participate in fewer enrichment activities); (7;9;10). These factors may be partly responsible for delayed cognitive, intellectual, social, and emotional development of the child (11-15). Given the negative consequences of postpartum depression, prevention and treatment is imperative.

Postpartum psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, has become the most underdiagnosed complication in the United States. It can lead to increased costs of medical care, inappropriate medical care, child abuse and neglect, discontinuation of breastfeeding, and family dysfunction and adversely affects early brain development (Earls, 2010). Over 400,000 infants are born to mothers that are depressed. One of 7 new mothers (14.5%) experience depressive episodes that impair maternal role function. An episode of major or minor depression that occurs during pregnancy or the first 12 months after birth is called perinatal or postpartum depression (Wisner, Chambers & Sit, 2006). Mothers with postpartum depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may make it difficult for them to complete daily care activities for themselves or for others (Postpartum Depression). The six stages of postpartum are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance and PTSD. These stages may affect any women regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or economic status. However only a physician can diagnose a woman with postpartum depression. It does not occur because of something a mother does or does not do, it’s a combination of physical and emotional factors. After childbirth, the levels of hormones in a woman’s body quickly drop; which may lead to chemical changes in her brain (Postpartum Depression). Unbalanced hormones may trigger mood swings.

According to the North Carolina Clinic, they have a research program to understand why women go through depression during pregnancy, and after childbirth. The research program

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 20 people suffer from depression (2014). Although widely recognized and somewhat easy to diagnose, depression is an ignored and almost hidden, disease. In women, the statistics are especially grim for those who are pregnant or were recently pregnant. A great number of women suffer from postpartum depression; an illness which is often overlooked, misdiagnosed and untreated. Postpartum depression (PPD) has been defined as an emotional disorder that occurs in an estimated 10-15% of all women after childbirth (Liberto, 2010). Postpartum depression not only impacts the mother, but can cause long-term psychological challenges for the baby and create emotional turmoil for all family members.

Postpartum Depression is important because too often it affects the mother, her spouse, and the newborn child. This affects the relationship between the mother and child based on Erikson’s Psychosocial developmental Theory and the idea of trust vs. mistrust. If the child’s basic needs are not met that could lead to mistrust, anxiety, and insecurities. This could also lead to Reactive Attention Disorder, where the neglect a child experiences leads to difficulty making relationships. It’s also found to be more likely in mothers of colicky babies because if the child cries a lot the mothers are less likely to make an emotional connection.

During pregnancy, there are some factors beyond the mother’s control which can have negative significances for the fetus. Maternal stress occurs when the mother is exposed to psychosocial stressors during pregnancy (Kramer et al, 2009). The mother could also develop depression during or after her pregnancy. This mental illness affects the mother’s ability to function and cope with everyday life (NIHCM, 2010), thus affecting her relationship with her baby. Recent research evidence has highlighted that there is some overlap between the symptoms of maternal depression and stress (Cheng & Pickler, 2014), and that these play a role in affecting the normal development of the fetus. However, other research has indicated that stress and depression do not harm the fetus, and in fact can be developmentally beneficial (DiPetro, 2004). In this essay, a number of symptoms of maternal stress and depression shall be addressed, and the extent to which they affect the developing fetus. First to be discussed is how the emotional stability of the mother may affect the relationship she has with her baby.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major event occurring in eight to fifteen percent of the woman population after delivering their child (Glavin, Smith, Sørum & Ellefsen, 2010). The symptoms and causes of PPD are similar to depression symptoms in other periods of life (Glavin et al., 2010). These symptoms may include feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, loss of interest in daily activities, sleep changes, anger or irritability, loss of energy, self-loathing, reckless behavior and concentration problems. These symptoms may lead to other factors that are detrimental to the child bearing and rearing family.

There are times when new mothers are misdiagnosed and are given a lesser form of this depression. This is called having the baby blues, which is when a new mother experience’s mood swings, and anxiety. These symptoms can last one or two weeks after giving birth, where postpartum depression can continue on for months at a time. Even with baby blues having such a shorter time frame even after 2 weeks’ these new mothers are not being diagnosed correctly. In Mental Heath of Teen Mom Matters, Shiloh gives her experience “My son was crying and it was like the noise of scratching a chalkboard” (Reese p. 1) A new mom can face all these difficulties and my feel as though they do not have a maternal attachment to their

Depression, in general, affects more than 340 million people around the world and is reported to be the highest cause of disability in high-income countries (Demissie). 15% to 85% of mothers can experience postpartum “blues” with postpartum depression rates between 11.7% and 20.4% in the United States alone (Ersek). This depression can occur at anytime from post-delivery up to one year (Ersek).

According to the CDC, current research shows that postpartum depression (PPD) is a complication that effects 1-8 women after they give birth. It is when the mother experiences depression after giving birth that is the result of hormone changes, adjustments to motherhood and fatigue. It is one of the most common diseases after the mother gives birth and is often underdiagnosed and overlooked. PPD can cause complication that not only affect the mother but also the baby by breaking the mother-infant bond. PPD can lead to a lack of social and emotional support to the baby during its critical period of life according to the CDC. There are experiences that put some women at higher risks for developing postpartum depression than others women. Some risk factors discussed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are low social supports, stress, culture, multiple births, and economic standings. Some of these risk factors are shown in case A which involves a Latino family that includes a father that is 31 years in age, mother who is 30 years of age, a 5-year-old son and an 8 -week old daughter. The main idea of this case was that the mother was starting to develop postpartum depression after the birth of her last daughter.

“Postpartum depression affects 10% to 20% of women after delivery, regardless of maternal age, race, parity, socioeconomic status, or level of education”.( Consise) Postpartum depression is a major depression episode that occurs after childbirth affecting not only the mother but also the child and family members. After the delivery of the placenta extending for about six weeks this is considered as as the postpartum period. This a critical period for the mother and new born physiological and psychological because the woman’s body is returning to a non-pregnant state in which hormones, sleep parttters, emotions and relationship are changing. Therefore, up to 80% of mothers experience the "baby blues during the first week in which

If left untreated, postpartum depression can interfere with parents-child attachment and cause family problems later on in life. For mothers, untreated postpartum depression can last for months or up to years, sometimes becoming a chronic depressive disorder. Even when treated, postpartum depression increases a woman 's risk of future episodes of major depression. For fathers, postpartum depression can have a ripple effect, causing emotional damage for everyone close to a new baby. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, “When a new mother is depressed, the risk of depression in the baby 's father may also increase”. New dads are already at a highly risk of depression, whether or not the mother is affected. Children of parents who have untreated postpartum depression are most likely to have emotional and behavior problems, such as sleeping and eating disorders, excessive crying, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). And will also delay in language development.

Children of women diagnosed with PostPartum Depression are likely to have other problems (speech/growth delays, behavior problems, etc.)

Younger mothers are at greater risk of suffering depression, both when they are pregnant and after they give birth. There are many things that cause this condition. Taking care of a baby its not easy. Waking up every four hours to feed the baby makes the mothers feel tired and that causes the mother to get depressed. If you are a single mother and you have to work to provide for your child care being and if your trying to

Before I talk about love in religion I want to give a more in depth explanation of what love is and why it is important from a human perspective. If you were to ask a psychologist what they think love is, they would probably describe it as an emotion or something that we feel when we experience desire or attraction to something. Our brains release chemicals such as dopamine and adrenaline when we experience love. It is a driving force that can cause us to act a certain way, think a certain way, or even believe a certain way. Because of this, it is often regarded as the single most powerful emotion a person can experience.