Postpartum depression and mother-infant relationship at 3 months old

Abstract

Background: This paper is part of a prospective, epidemiologic study concerning postpartum depression (PPD). The women were first examined during pregnancy; after delivery they were seen with their infants at 3 and 18 months. The present study focuses on the 3-months-postpartum results.

Methods: A sample of 570 women and their infants were examined 3 months after delivery. Using the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; Cox et al., 1987. Br. J. Psychiatry 150:782-786), 10.2% of these new mothers presented PPD. The focus of the study concerned the effects of this neurotic disorder on the mother, the infant and on the mother-infant relationship.

Results: The deleterious effects concerning the infant were functional disorders such as eating or sleeping difficulties. The 'depressed' dyads presented less vocal and visual communications, less corporal interactions and less smiling. Conditions surrounding delivery and tiredness at 3 months are linked to difficulties in mother-infant relationship for the non-depressed mothers. Logistic models showed that primiparous PPD mothers have difficulties bathing their infants, whereas multiparous PPD mothers are more tired.

Limitation: This study did not take into account either protective factors or the effects of the infant himself.

Clinical relevance: Knowledge of the mothers' and infants' difficulties may help caregivers to detect these at-risk dyads and initiate therapeutic measures.