The Wellspring Logo
wellness workbookWellness Workbook
How To Achieve Enduring Health and Vitality
John W. Travis, M.D. & Regina Sara Ryan
 
top_img1
top_img2
  Home  > Child/Family Wellness  > Myth: Maternal Depression Does not Affect Fetal Wellbeing

Myth: Maternal Depression Does not Affect Fetal Wellbeing

Fact: Depression during pregnancy does indeed impact the unborn child. Depressed mothers have elevated levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine in their bloodstream; this crosses the placenta to enter the bloodstream of the unborn child. In addition, symptoms of depression engender a host of destructive behaviors: smoking, poor weight gain, and the use of alcohol or cocaine. Excess maternal stress may also affect a child's ability to learn. Excessive exposure to stress affects the physiology of brain. Prenatal stress causes a real rewiring, setting the stage for a range of life-long stress-prone reactions, from heightened irritability to behavior problems.

Depressed mothers are likelier to have babies who cry excessively and are difficult to console: The more depressed the mother, the more irritable the newborn. Often depression during pregnancy will continue as postpartum depression: This may be exacerbated by an irritable infant, making it even more difficult for mother and baby to bond, and possibly activating a lifelong cycle of depression and irritability. Emotional support is important. Whether the issue is grief, stress, or depression, recognizing and sharing these feelings with a sympathetic person can lighten the oppression for mother and child. Programs offering emotional support and teaching coping and parenting skills can assist greatly in alleviating depressive feelings and fostering a successful labor and delivery.

Sources

Suzanne Arms, Immaculate Deception II: Myth, Magic and Birth

Thomas R. Verny, Preparenting: Nurturing Your Baby from Conception




top_img3
links_heading
Home
right_link_sep
Personal Wellness
right_link_sep
Personal Wellness Lite
right_link_sep
Child / Family
   An Introduction
   Premises and Objectives
   Pregnancy
   Birth
   The First Year
   Discipline
   Daycare
   Learning
   Cultural Pressures
   Links (Child/Family)
right_link_sep
Global Wellness
right_link_sep
For Professionals
right_link_sep
About
right_link_sep
Contact Us
right_link_sep
right_link_sep
right_link_sep
right_link_bottom
feature_topics_heading
About the Wellspring
About the Wellspring more...
sep
Pregnancy
Over the past decade, revolutionary discoveries in neuroscience and developmental psychology have shattered long-held misconceptions about fetal devel more...
sep
An Introduction
Meryn and John candidly share how they came to the field of child/family wellness from their background in adult wellness. more...
sep
right_box_top
left_box_bottom

 

top_img4
left_box_bottom
© 2018, Wellness Associates, Inc, All Rights Reserved. Home | Personal Wellness | Personal Wellness Lite | Child/Family | Global Wellness | For Professionals | Resources | About The Wellspring | Contact Us | Advertising Disclaimer | Another site & Search Engine Marketing (SEO) by webko.com.au Byron Bay - Web Design Australia