Study: Unborn Babies Develop Well Even if Mom is Depressed | Green Eggs & Moms

From the time expectant mothers find out they are…well, expecting… to the time their child is born, those around her focus on keeping her happy. Why? Because her psychological state affects her child’s development. Which is why when a mom-to-be suffers from depression, her loved ones try to get her to crossover to a more jovial state.

However, a study suggests that if a mom is depressed during her pregnancy, it’s best to keep her this way for the sake of her child’s development. Yes, I know this sounds absolutely absurd because it goes against our age-old notion that pregnant women need to have permanent smiles on their faces.

The research & its findings

According to EurekaAlert.org, the University of California-Irvine conducted a study which focused on the effect of a mother’s psychological state on her developing fetus. They screened pregnant moms for depression, pre- and post-birth. They also monitored the fetuses development by running tests after they were born.

Interestingly, they found that consistency improved babies’ development while in the womb. What does it mean? Unborn children who developed faster were from moms that were either happy or depressed before and after giving birth. Apparently, depression alone doesn’t negatively affect a developing fetus.

On the other hand, inconsistency slowed development of fetuses. Those who experienced this were from moms who went from being merry to depressed, or vice-versa while pregnant and after giving birth.

But…

And this is a big but. A recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) looked into the effects of parents’ depression in older children. They found that kids who live with depressed parents are more likely to suffer from behavioral and developmental problems. Therefore, the recommendation is for parents to seek treatment.

Here’s the take away

While the study from the University of California-Irvine finds that a mother’s depression doesn’t affect a developing fetus, for as long as the environment is consistent (short-term), AAP findings show that maternal (and paternal) depression have lasting effects on older children (long-term).

So if you’re a husband reading this, don’t throw out your clown costume just yet. After all, you’ll need something to keep your pregnant wife laughing all the way to labor.

Source:
Eurekalert.org, A fetus can sense mom’s psychological state
Photo:
Creative Commons from abarefoot

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1. Depressed? You Increase Behavioral & Emotional Problems in Your Kids