The Relationship between Maternal Confidence, Infant Temperament, and Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression and Early Predictors of Lower Maternal Confidence at 12 to 15 Months after Delivery

The objective of the present study is to assess the association of early postpartum depression and maternal confidence with low maternal confidence at 12-15 months after delivery. Prospective study performed from 2013 to 2015 with 358 postpartum women who had participated in a cluster trial to treat their depression during pregnancy. At 6-8 months after birth, we reviewed socio-demographics, obstetric data and Postpartum Depression (PPD) with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Maternal Confidence (MC) was assessed at 6-8 and 12-15 months after birth with the Maternal Confidence Questionnaire. Low and High MC was defined using 50% percentile. The crude and adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) with the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. Multivariate models estimated the ORs between postpartum depression and LMC at 12-15 months adjusted for socio-demographic variables, maternal characteristics and previous LMC. Statistical analysis was performed with STATA12 and the significance level was considered equal or lower than 5%. Among a sample of women who were depressed during pregnancy, 19% had probably moderate to severe depression, at the beginning of the child' second year of life. Low maternal confidence was associated with previous low maternal confidence (OR = 1.71; 95% CI 1.33:2.20, p = <0.001) and vaginal delivery but not with previous PPD. Based on our findings, detection and treatment of women presenting confidence problems at the first months after delivery may prevent later mother self-efficacy problems.

Labor Analgesia reduces the risk of postpartum depression: A cohort study

Background

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a frequent mental disorder after delivery. In China, most parturients give birth with the assistance of labor analgesia (LA) or by cesarean section (CS); however, it is still unclear whether these two approaches reveal different effects on PPD.

Methods

One hundred and ninety-eight patients with single pregnancy at full term were allocated to receive either group LA or group CS. Maternal and neonatal variables in the perinatal period were recorded. Multivariate logistical regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the associated factors of PPD.

Results

The incidence of PPD in group LA was lower than in group CS. Besides, eight factors were found to be potential predictors of PPD. Multivariate logistic model showed that LA was a protective factor against PPD. However, high family income and Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) scores at 3 days postpartum were associated with an increased risk of PPD.

Conclusion

LA could reduce the incidence of PPD in women with single pregnancy at full term. Family income and EPDS scores in the early postpartum period were also related with PPD. Large sample size studies are needed to verify the impact of LA on the psychological states of postpartum women.