Moms Of Infant Boys Over 70 Percent Likelier To Get PPD

mom with baby boy
Image: iStock / tatyana_tomsickova

We are always learning about postpartum depression, but there’s always more to learn. Sometimes, it is hard to pinpoint exactly why it happens. So, we are constantly searching for reasons to be able to diagnose it. When you catch it sooner, you can treat it sooner. Recently, a study was released that sheds more light on the origin. According to the study, moms of boys seem more likely to develop postpartum depression. Additionally, moms who suffer birth complications are also more likely. Between the two, the fact that moms of boys have such a high likelihood is quite a surprise.

Moms who give birth to boys are 71 to 79 percent likelier to suffer from postpartum depression. That is pretty much three quarters. It seems the link is due to inflammatory immune response. The inflammation as a link to developing depressive symptoms, and male fetuses can increase inflammation. However, the direct relationship between the two is still unclear.

“The finding that having a baby boy or a difficult birth increases a woman’s risk gives health practitioners two new and easy ways to identify women who would particularly benefit from additional support in the first few weeks and months,” explains one of the researchers, Dr. Sarah Johns to Science Daily.

It should come as no surprise…

While the correlation between having a boy and postpartum depression is a surprise, birth complications are not. Naturally, experiencing a difficult or traumatic birth is a lot to deal with. Because you are going through so much, you will absolutely have a harder time.

Moms who experience any sort of birth complications should be receiving additional support. Due to their experience, they may be shell shocked or even worse. Giving them that additional boost of support immediately could result in less severe postpartum depression, or maybe none at all.

Dr. Johns and Dr. Sarah Myers, the other researcher note that women who suffer from depressive tendencies are at an increased risk for postpartum depression. But because these women show signs of depression, anxiety and stress, they are actually less likely of developing postpartum depression after birth trauma. Since they show tendencies, there will be a prevention plan put into place earlier.

Postpartum depression is avoidable

Dr. Johns adds, “it has been shown that giving women at risk extra help and support can make it less likely to develop.” Hopefully now, this new research will give health providers tools to look more closely at the women who are more likely. And hopefully, they are able to get them help, or put wheels in motion more quickly.

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