Maternal Mental Health and Child Development | Why It’s Important?

07 Jun Maternal Mental Health and Child Development | Why It’s Important?

Do you know, 1 in every 5 women in the U.S. experiences maternal mental health conditions?

While may fail to even consider, maternal mental health matters. 

In fact, considering the pandemic, it is more vital than ever before to take care of pregnant ladies. 

As per numerous studies, the state of mind of a pregnant lady can affect the development of the child.

Not only this, but it also affects the mother-child’s relationship after birth. There is much maternal mental health research to support that. 

Sadly, not many know what does maternal mental health means; and others just don’t care. 

So…

What is Maternal Mental Health?

Maternity is a beautiful phase of any woman’s life. However, it also comes with a lot of changes. Notably, these changes are not only physical but mental as well. 

The hormonal change during pregnancy takes a toll on the mental state. The frequent mood swings, anxiety, and depression ruin happiness at times. 

Moreover, while people consider it to be a phase, maternal mental health problems are more than that. 

As defined by WHO, maternal mental health is “a state of well-being in which a mother realizes her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to her community”.

When a new mother misses to keep up with the same, she’s said to have maternal mental health problems. 

Notably, maternal mental health definition can vary from person to person depending upon their symptoms. 

While some women just have mood disorders in pregnancy, others have to deal with postpartum mental health issues. 

But as soon as the pregnancy news surfaces everyone seems to care about the baby. Nevertheless, people must also know why is maternal mental health so important?

Why is Maternal Mental Health Important?

Maternal mental health conditions arise due to physiological and psychological changes. 

Importantly, after giving birth, a mother needs a good amount of time to recover. However, she also needs to take care of the baby. 

This creates a stressful situation for her. Neither does she gets physical rest nor mental peace. 

As a result, it leads to many mental disorders. This includes depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bipolar illness. It also includes post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders. 

To emphasize, the first 6 months after delivery increases the chances of maternal mental health disorder by 70%.

Additionally, around 15-20% of women experience depression and anxiety during or after pregnancy.

Notably, suicides and overdose are the leading causes of death in the first year of postpartum. 

It doesn’t end here!

Another reason why maternal mental health matters, are it affects the growth of the child. 

Maternal mental health and child development are co-related. The mental state of a to be mother affects the brain development of the growing baby. 

Additionally, after delivering the baby, compromised mental health affects the mother’s relationship with her child. 

She might feel like not taking care of the baby, not feeding the infant. 

Because of this women have to take therapy for pregnancy depression.

How Does Maternal Mental Health Affect Child Development?

Be it mood disorder, or general maternal mental health problems it’s mostly driven by neurological causes. 

The effect of MMH (maternal mental health) disorder on a child’s development is mental. 

Let’s see what the research has to say about it…

Evidence #1. 

As per the evidence, the outcomes of maternal depressive symptoms on the outcomes of children’s development in the early years are opposing.

For this, two theoretical frameworks cumulative stress and a mismatched model proposed. 

In study 1, women enrolled in a longitudinal study. They were specifically assessed prior to conception and through a subsequent pregnancy and postpartum. Study 2 includes the sample of mother-child pairs who completed the home visits in early childhood. 

As a result, there were changes in maternal depressive symptoms, but unstable changes were associated with lower maternal ratings of effortful control. Additionally, it was also associated with poorer performance on an inhibitory control task. 

Evidence #2

Another study depicts that clinical depression pre-dating birth-giving is related to incoherent and less sensitive caregiving.

Feeding interactions between depressed mothers and their children may interfere with hunger and children’s autonomy and individuation. This study analyzed feeding depressed mothers from the point of view of attachment theory. 

For this, the study includes 60 mother-child dyads. Mothers were further divided into two groups of 30 each. One group consisted of mothers with major depression and the others without the disorders. 

Moreover, the age of children was between 12-36 years. 

As a result, the depressed group had higher mean scores on the neglecting scale of mothers. Additionally, the results also reveal a higher incidence of emotional-behavioral problems in children of depressed mothers. 

Evidence #3

Another study analyzed the effect of antenatal mental health on the development of offspring. 

The study examined the effect of positive maternal mental health. The antenatal mental health was assessed during the 26th week of pregnancy. Its impact on offspring was assessed when the child was 12, 18, and 24 months old. 

The result showed a unique association of positive antenatal mental health with the child’s cognitive, language, and parentally rated competencies. Also, it was distinct from the sheer absence of symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

Clearly, maternal mental health effects on a child can be detrimental in the long as well as short-term. 

A depressed mother who fails to take care of their child’s diet at the initial age can give rise to nutrient deficiency in the children. 

Also, the lack of attachment can make behavioral changes. It can lead to mental illnesses in the offspring.

Moving on, only knowing what is maternal mental health is not sufficient. To know how to handle it, one must know that there are different types of maternal mental health disorders. 

Common Maternal Mental Health Disorders

Maternal mental health is not only related to depression and anxiety. 

Notably, maternal mental health symptoms start to appear during pregnancy and last 1-2 years after giving birth. This, as a result, gives rise to a wide range of maternal mental disorders and symptoms. 

Some of the common maternal mental health disorders include:

#1. Baby Blues

Baby blues affects around 80% of new mothers. The reason behind this is the sudden shift in the hormones. 

The symptoms of baby blues often stay for a few days. It includes feeling sad, having mood swings, along with certain episodes of crying. 

Nonetheless, if the symptoms of baby blues continue to exist, the mother is most likely suffering from depression.

#2. Post-Partum Depression

It is the most commonly talked about maternal mental health disorder. It is also referred to as a perinatal or peripartum depression.

It’s a major depressive disorder and begins either during pregnancy or within 4 weeks of giving birth. 

Additionally, perinatal mental health statistics show around 20% of females get affected by this. Also, its symptoms can be both severe and mild. 

Women dealing with post-partum depression, find it difficult to bond with their children and find happiness. 

#3. Post-Partum Anxiety

Getting anxious during pregnancy is common. It might be due to the additional responsibilities or due to hormonal effects. 

However, if it persists for a long, it is nothing but post-partum anxiety. 

According to American Pregnancy Association, around 10% of women develop postpartum anxiety during pregnancy or after giving birth. 

Furthermore, although it can be treated, the persisting questions of “what if’s” can lead to sleepless nights, restlessness, and palpitation. 

#4. Post-Partum OCD

Perinatal OCD affects every 2 in 100 women during pregnancy and 2-3 women after birthing. 

In fact, according to a study, around 50% of the women with OCD have unwanted thoughts about intentionally harming their infants. To avoid such disturbing situations, postpartum mental health training is of great help. 

Although these maternal mental health facts are disturbing, they do not represent a psychotic process. 

#5. Post-Partum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Undoubtedly, creating a life could be stressful both physically and mentally. Adding to it, delivering a baby can be traumatic both through natural delivery and C-section. 

Not to much surprise, more than 45% of women feel they have traumatic birth experiences. Also, 9% of them experience post-traumatic PTSD.

Many women get moved by this traumatic experience and unwontedly re-live it. They even experience nightmares about giving birth. 

Considering the effects of maternal mental health in pregnancy and child behavior, it’s quite evident why is maternal mental health important. 

To combat these and to prevent them from taking a severe turn, it’s important to seek maternal counseling services. 

Apart from this, there are other possible ways to keep your maternal mental health in check.

How to Improve Maternal Mental Health? [5 Tips]

It is also true that fluctuations in the mental state are more common than anything during pregnancy. 

Emotional highs and lows are inevitable during and after pregnancy.

However, taking maternal mental health into consideration is vital for both mother and child. It is for the betterment of their health and their emotional bonding. 

So, what can you do to take control of your hands?

Here are some of the tips that can help you maintain your sanity during pregnancy and even after.

#1. Practice Yoga

Yoga seems to have a solution for everything.

Doing yoga can help you with comparatively less traumatic delivery. Moreover, researches show that performing yoga can decrease prenatal depression. 

In fact, prenatal yoga is also helpful in providing peaceful nights and relieve form anxiety. 

#2. Embrace Body Positivity

The changes in the body during pregnancy are inevitable. The stretch marks, weight gain, and hair fall are among some of the common body changes the pregnant women have to go through. 

This creates a sense of alertness and depression in most women. Learning to embrace the changes and taking steps to exercise and eat healthy might help you come out of it. 

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#3. Consider Talk Therapy

Pregnant women can try talk therapy to share what is in their minds. It will help them come out of their worrisome and depressing thoughts. Also, it can help create a safe space and improve the relationship with the child after giving birth. 

Notably, for this, pregnant women can try talking about it with their maternal mental health therapist. 

#4. Try Antenatal Birth Classes

Thinking about the delivery and the upbringing of the child can be worrisome and depressing at times; especially for new mothers. 

It can give rise to anxiety and depression. To avoid this, you can try going for antenatal birth classes. Learning about managing pain and fears can help manage maternal mental health. 

#5. Consider Therapies

At last, you can try therapy for pregnancy depression. Maternal therapists can not only provide you with ample factual information and also maternal mental health education. 

This can help you get rid of childhood traumas, emotional stress, and changing body concerns as well. 

Maternal mental health is no joke. 

Clearly, it’s not only what you eat that affects the baby.

It’s what you think also has a lot to do with the development of your child. 

ALSO READ: How to Get Rid of Heartburn While Pregnant

Concluding Thoughts

A women’s mental state can have severe effects on the health of the child. Exposure to depression and anxiety during pregnancy can affect the child in a long term. 

No to mention, post-partum depression and anxiety can also affect the state of mind of mothers for extensive periods. 

The causes could be anything from poor diet to bad environment. Statistics show the relationship between maternal mental health and domestic violence as well.

Nonetheless, if left untreated, prenatal depression can give rise to suicidal and child-harming thoughts as well. 

Fortunately, the awareness of the condition is making changes around.

In light of the declining mental state of the new mothers, may is now declared a maternal mental health awareness month. 

You can either make changes by yourself with the help of your family members or can look for maternal mental health training online.

Notably, you can also try the maternal mental health hotline.