Postnatal Depression News and Research

RSS

Postpartum depression (Postnatal depression) is a type of depressive illness that some women experience after child birth. This form of depression usually occurs around 4 to 6 weeks after delivery but sometimes does not manifest until months after the baby is born. The condition can occur whether a woman gives birth naturally or by way of a caesarean section.

Maternal depression found to disrupt key parenting behaviors

Mothers experiencing depression have considerable challenges across multiple parenting domains, according to a global systematic review published in the July issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry, part of the Lippincott portfolio from Wolters Kluwer.

11 Jul 2025

Premenstrual symptoms linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease

Women diagnosed with premenstrual symptoms have a slightly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life.

11 Jul 2025

New machine learning model shows promise in predicting postpartum depression risk

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 15 percent of individuals after childbirth. Early identification of patients at risk of PPD could improve proactive mental health support.

19 May 2025

Mother-infant bonding can buffer long-term effects of postpartum depression on child outcomes

Postpartum maternal mental health and mother-to-infant bonding are well-established as critical factors in a child's psychosocial development.

14 May 2025

New QR4 model identifies hidden risk factors in cardiovascular disease

Collaborative research, led from the University of Oxford and published today in Nature Medicine, has developed a new tool called QR4 that more accurately predicts an individual's 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases, like heart disease and stroke, particularly identifying high-risk patients that current prediction tools miss.

9 May 2025

Study links postnatal depression to disrupted oxytocin system during breastfeeding

The oxytocin system – which helps release breast milk and strengthens the bond between mother and baby – may be affected during breastfeeding in mothers experiencing postnatal depression, finds a new study by UCL researchers.

14 Mar 2025

Talk therapy delivered by non-specialists effective for pregnant and postpartum individuals

Approximately one in five of pregnant and postpartum individuals experience depression and anxiety, yet less than 10 per cent receive proper treatment.

3 Mar 2025

Pregnancy triggers profound brain changes, enhancing maternal instincts and mental health

A groundbreaking study reveals that pregnancy leads to a U-shaped pattern in gray matter volume, driven by hormonal changes and linked to maternal attachment.

19 Jan 2025

Maternal medications linked to changes in protein and fat levels in human milk

The impact of maternal antidepressant and anti-inflammatory use on breast milk composition shows reduced protein and fat levels, affecting infant nutrition.

9 Jan 2025

Study links mother's emotional speech to infant oxytocin levels

Infants whose mothers regularly use language to describe what their child is thinking or feeling, have higher levels of the hormone oxytocin, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

25 Nov 2024

Low vitamin D associated with increased depression risk in pregnancy and after birth

Research indicates that low vitamin D levels may contribute to anxiety and depression in pregnant women, emphasizing the importance of adequate supplementation.

29 Oct 2024

Maternal stress and depression alter infant DNA, with potential lifelong impact

Maternal stress and depression during pregnancy and postpartum are linked to DNA methylation changes in infants, potentially affecting their development and long-term health.

23 Oct 2024

Maternal heart rate variability tied to postpartum mental health and infant brain development, study reveals

Researchers find that lower maternal heart rate variability postpartum is linked to higher anxiety and depression, affecting both mother and infant neurophysiology.

14 Aug 2024

Study suggests maternal adverse childhood experiences may become biologically embedded

Researchers investigated the transfer of biological embedding of life experience across generations by evaluating traumatic childhood experiences of mothers and epigenetic clocks in pregnant mothers and their newborn offspring.

13 Aug 2024

Discovery of TRPC5 gene's role in obesity and postnatal depression offers hope for new treatments

Scientists have identified a gene which, when missing or impaired, can cause obesity, behavioral problems and, in mothers, postnatal depression. The discovery, reported today in Cell, may have wider implications for the treatment of postnatal depression, with a study in mice suggesting that oxytocin may alleviate symptoms.

8 Jul 2024

Gene discovery points to oxytocin for depression

While investigating two boys from different families with severe obesity, anxiety, autism, and behavioural problems triggered by sounds or smells, a team led by scientists at the University of Cambridge, UK, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA, discovered that the boys were missing a single gene, known as TRPC5, which sits on the X chromosome.

3 Jul 2024

Study reveals alarming rates of postpartum depression among mothers in six countries

Study published in BMC Public Health identified the prevalence, predictors, and coping strategies for postpartum depression (PPD) among mothers in six countries, highlighting significant variation across different cultural and demographic contexts.

19 May 2024

Relaxation interventions can be offered to lactating parents who would like to improve milk supply and increase well-being

A recent study in JAMA Pediatrics explored the utility of relaxation therapy in increasing milk production in human mothers.

9 May 2024

New tool more accurately predicts an individual's 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases

8 May 2024

Reduction of prenatal depression associated with higher full-term birth rates

The effect of lowering prenatal mother depression on gestational duration.

25 Apr 2024