First contacts last a lifetime
Because mom—or dad—is overwhelmed by depression or another postpartum mood disorder, marshalling the emotional reserves to nurture an infant can take on monumental proportions. Poor caregiver bonding can adversely impact children for the rest of their lives. That’s why postpartum depression is so insidious. Its immediate effects are on mom or dad. But its cumulative, gradual effects can impact the child for a lifetime.
Postpartum depression can impair a mother’s ability to interact with her baby so that the baby can form a secure attachment. Not every mother will experience the full range of effects, but postpartum mood disorders may contribute to the following in mothers or fathers.
Effects of postpartum depression on parents:
Several studies suggest that babies of mothers with untreated postpartum depression are more likely to be slow to develop motor skills. (Those are activities such as lifting the head, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking.) These children also tend to show delayed development in cognitive skills—the mental skills that guide how knowledge is obtained.
When mom has postpartum depression, the infant may withdraw. The baby may be more irritable and difficult to soothe. Studies show that by age 4 or 5, some of these children show impaired cognitive and intellectual performance. By age 11, children of mothers who had untreated postpartum depression had lower IQ scores than the youngsters of mothers without postpartum depression. The children also had greater problems with attention and had a tougher time with mathematical reasoning.
Over time, children of postpartum parents show signs of:
Locate mental health and well-being support organizations in your area.
