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Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official... Apr 2022Previous research has noted an association between breastfeeding and a reduced risk of postpartum depression (PPD). This article provides a systematic review and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Previous research has noted an association between breastfeeding and a reduced risk of postpartum depression (PPD). This article provides a systematic review and meta-analysis on the possible association of the type and degree of breastfeeding and PPD. A systematic literature search in English was conducted by using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library Databases from their start dates until January 2021. Outcome estimates were pooled by odds ratios (ORs) or standardized mean differences. Women who did not exclusively breastfeed had 89% higher odds of PPD (OR = 1.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50-2.39). Included studies used different cutoff points for the diagnosis of PPD. Therefore, PPD in nonexclusive breastfeeding mothers was more in studies using the cutoff point 9/10 (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.46-2.64) as symptoms of depression than those using the cutoff point 12 (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.21-2.61). Some studies reported PPD based on means and the others reported it based on OR. Accordingly, nonexclusive breastfeeding mothers had higher odds of PPD in studies calculating the effect size based on means (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.19-2.19) and OR (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.65-3.39) than in other studies. This review showed that exclusive breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk for PPD.
Topics: Breast Feeding; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Humans; Mothers; Odds Ratio
PubMed: 34964664
DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2021.0183 -
Perspectives in Psychiatric Care Oct 2021The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of the skin-to-skin contact (SSC) method on postpartum depression. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of the skin-to-skin contact (SSC) method on postpartum depression.
DESIGN AND METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed.
FINDINGS
This review was completed with three studies meeting the research criteria. Two studies were randomized controlled studies and one study had a quasi-experimental design.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
SSC is such a low-cost intervention that it would be accessible, simple, and feasible for most mothers in the first postpartum weeks. By reducing mothers' depressive symptoms and physiological stress, SSC facilitates mothers' wellbeing and ultimately affects infants' development by enhancing the mother/infant relationship.
Topics: Child; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Humans; Infant; Kangaroo-Mother Care Method; Mothers; Postpartum Period
PubMed: 33476428
DOI: 10.1111/ppc.12727 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Sep 2019During pregnancy and the postnatal period many changes occur in a woman's body, both in mental and physical spheres. The birth of a child and a new role-of a...
During pregnancy and the postnatal period many changes occur in a woman's body, both in mental and physical spheres. The birth of a child and a new role-of a mother-can sometimes be associated with numerous negative emotions, uncertainty, fear, anxiety, disgust, depression, or sadness. In the puerperium period, the development of baby blues or postpartum depression may occur. Postpartum depression develops within one month of childbirth and may last up to one year. Depressive disorders that may develop in a young mother affect both her and the newborn's health. That is why it is so important to try to search for factors that could significantly reduce the likelihood of developing depression in this period. The study aims at assessing the relationship between physical activity during pregnancy and puerperium or in the postpartum and the development of postnatal depression. A review of the literature was carried out in the Medline-PubMed database. The search terms were "pregnancy" AND "physical activity AND postpartum depression". The study included only English-language publications published in the period 2000-2018. A total of 216 references were found. After establishing the inclusion and exclusion criteria based on the analysis of titles and abstracts, 173 articles were excluded from the review. A total of 43 publications were read in full. Finally, 16 articles were included in the review. It was shown that regular physical activity during pregnancy, pregnancy, and puerperium, or in the postnatal period itself as compared to inactivity, reduces the risk of developing depression in pregnant women and after the birth of a child. Physical activity can be an essential factor in the prevention of depressive disorders of women in the postnatal period.
Topics: Depression, Postpartum; Exercise; Female; Humans; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy
PubMed: 31480778
DOI: 10.3390/medicina55090560 -
JAMA Nov 2022Unintended pregnancy is common in the US and is associated with adverse maternal and infant health outcomes; however, estimates of these associations specific to current... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis
IMPORTANCE
Unintended pregnancy is common in the US and is associated with adverse maternal and infant health outcomes; however, estimates of these associations specific to current US populations are lacking.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate associations of unintended pregnancy with maternal and infant health outcomes during pregnancy and post partum with studies relevant to current clinical practice and public health in the US.
DATA SOURCES
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, and MEDLINE databases (January 1, 2000, to June 15, 2022) and manual review of reference lists.
STUDY SELECTION
Epidemiologic studies relevant to US populations that compared key maternal and infant health outcomes for unintended vs intended pregnancies and met prespecified eligibility criteria were included after investigators' independent dual review of abstracts and full-text articles.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Investigators abstracted data from publications on study methods, participant characteristics, settings, pregnancy intention, comparators, confounders, and outcomes; data were validated by a second investigator. Risk of bias was independently dual rated by investigators using criteria developed by the US Preventive Services Task Force. Results of studies controlling for confounders were combined by using a profile likelihood random-effects model.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Prenatal depression, postpartum depression, maternal experience of interpersonal violence, preterm birth, and infant low birth weight.
RESULTS
Thirty-six studies (N = 524 522 participants) were included (14 cohort studies rated good or fair quality; 22 cross-sectional studies); 12 studies used large population-based data sources. Compared with intended pregnancy, unintended pregnancy was significantly associated with higher odds of depression during pregnancy (23.3% vs 13.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.59 [95% CI, 1.35-1.92]; I2 = 85.0%; 15 studies [n = 41 054]) and post partum (15.7% vs 9.6%; aOR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.40-1.70]; I2 = 7.1%; 10 studies [n = 82 673]), interpersonal violence (14.6% vs 5.5%; aOR, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.41-2.91]; I2 = 64.1%; 5 studies [n = 42 306]), preterm birth (9.4% vs 7.7%; aOR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.12-1.31]; I2 = 1.7%; 10 studies [n = 94 351]), and infant low birth weight (7.3% vs 5.2%; aOR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.02-1.21]; I2 = 0.0%; 8 studies [n = 87 547]). Results were similar in sensitivity analyses based on controlling for history of depression for prenatal and postpartum depression and on study design and definition of unintended pregnancy for relevant outcomes. Studies provided limited sociodemographic data and measurement of confounders and outcomes varied.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiologic observational studies relevant to US populations, unintended pregnancy, compared with intended pregnancy, was significantly associated with adverse maternal and infant outcomes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO Identifier: CRD42020192981.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Birth Weight; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression, Postpartum; Infant Health; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Observational Studies as Topic; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Premature Birth; Pregnancy Outcome; Maternal Health; United States; Violence; Pregnancy Complications
PubMed: 36318133
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.19097 -
Archives of Women's Mental Health Aug 2023Maternal psychological distress and mother-infant bonding problems each predict poorer offspring outcomes. They are also related to each other, yet the extensive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Maternal psychological distress and mother-infant bonding problems each predict poorer offspring outcomes. They are also related to each other, yet the extensive literature reporting their association has not been meta-analysed.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, ProQuest DTG, and OATD for English-language peer-reviewed and grey literature reporting an association between mother-infant bonding, and multiple indicators of maternal psychological distress.
RESULTS
We included 133 studies representing 118 samples; 99 samples (110,968 mothers) were eligible for meta-analysis. Results showed concurrent associations across a range of timepoints during the first year postpartum, between bonding problems and depression (r = .27 [95% CI 0.20, 0.35] to r = .47 [95% CI 0.41, 0.53]), anxiety (r = .27 [95% CI 0.24, 0.31] to r = .39 [95% CI 0.15, 0.59]), and stress (r = .46 [95% CI 0.40, 0.52]). Associations between antenatal distress and subsequent postpartum bonding problems were mostly weaker and with wider confidence intervals: depression (r = .20 [95% CI 0.14, 0.50] to r = .25 [95% CI 0.64, 0.85]), anxiety (r = .16 [95% CI 0.10, 0.22]), and stress (r = .15 [95% CI - 0.67, 0.80]). Pre-conception depression and anxiety were associated with postpartum bonding problems (r = - 0.17 [95% CI - 0.22, - 0.11]).
CONCLUSION
Maternal psychological distress is associated with postpartum mother-infant bonding problems. Co-occurrence of psychological distress and bonding problems is common, but should not be assumed. There may be benefit in augmenting existing perinatal screening programs with well-validated mother-infant bonding measures.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Infant; Humans; Mothers; Mother-Child Relations; Postpartum Period; Parturition; Anxiety; Obstetric Labor Complications; Object Attachment; Depression, Postpartum
PubMed: 37316760
DOI: 10.1007/s00737-023-01332-1 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jan 2023No meta-analysis has analyzed the effect of physical activity level, period of physical activity intervention, and duration of intervention, on perinatal depression.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
No meta-analysis has analyzed the effect of physical activity level, period of physical activity intervention, and duration of intervention, on perinatal depression. This study was to evaluate the impact of physical activity intensity, dose, period, and duration on perinatal depression.
METHODS
The literature was searched via the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Weighted mean difference (WMD) or the risk ratio (RR) was used as the effect indicator, and the effect size was represented by the 95 % confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analysis based on the perinatal stage, physical activity intensity, physical activity equivalent, and intervention duration was performed.
RESULTS
Totally, 35 studies including 5084 women were included. Physical activity could reduce the incidence and severity of depression in perinatal women. Among depressed women with prenatal depression, low-intensity physical activity, with metabolic equivalents (METs)-min/week being <450, was associated with lower levels of depression. In the general population, the risk of postpartum depression was lower in the physical activity group when the duration of intervention was ≥12 weeks, being II, III stage, and ≥450 METs-min/week. Both low and moderate-intensity physical activity were beneficial to an improved depression severity among depressed women with postpartum depression, and moderate exercise intervention could decrease the risk of postpartum depression in general pregnant women.
LIMITATIONS
Different types of physical activities may affect the effectiveness of interventions.
CONCLUSION
Our study indicated physical activity specifically targeted at pregnant women could reduce depression risk and severity.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Depression, Postpartum; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Exercise; Odds Ratio
PubMed: 36374719
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.10.026 -
JAMA Jan 2016Depression is a source of substantial burden for individuals and their families, including women during the pregnant and postpartum period. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
IMPORTANCE
Depression is a source of substantial burden for individuals and their families, including women during the pregnant and postpartum period.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review the benefits and harms of depression screening and treatment, and accuracy of selected screening instruments, for pregnant and postpartum women. Evidence for depression screening in adults in general is available in the full report.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials through January 20, 2015; references; and government websites.
STUDY SELECTION
English-language trials of benefits and harms of depression screening, depression treatment in pregnant and postpartum women with screen-detected depression, and diagnostic accuracy studies of depression screening instruments in pregnant and postpartum women.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two investigators independently reviewed abstracts and full-text articles and extracted data from fair- and good-quality studies. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the benefit of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in pregnant and postpartum women.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Depression remission, prevalence, symptoms, and related measures of depression recovery or response; sensitivity and specificity of selected screening measures to detect depression; and serious adverse effects of antidepressant treatment.
RESULTS
Among pregnant and postpartum women 18 years and older, 6 trials (n = 11,869) showed 18% to 59% relative reductions with screening programs, or 2.1% to 9.1% absolute reductions, in the risk of depression at follow-up (3-5 months) after participation in programs involving depression screening, with or without additional treatment components, compared with usual care. Based on 23 studies (n = 5398), a cutoff of 13 on the English-language Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale demonstrated sensitivity ranging from 0.67 (95% CI, 0.18-0.96) to 1.00 (95% CI, 0.67-1.00) and specificity consistently 0.87 or higher. Data were sparse for Patient Health Questionnaire instruments. Pooled results for the benefit of CBT for pregnant and postpartum women with screen-detected depression showed an increase in the likelihood of remission (pooled relative risk, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.19-1.50]; No. of studies [K] = 10, I2 = 7.9%) compared with usual care, with absolute increases ranging from 6.2% to 34.6%. Observational evidence showed that second-generation antidepressant use during pregnancy may be associated with small increases in the risks of potentially serious harms.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Direct and indirect evidence suggested that screening pregnant and postpartum women for depression may reduce depressive symptoms in women with depression and reduce the prevalence of depression in a given population. Evidence for pregnant women was sparser but was consistent with the evidence for postpartum women regarding the benefits of screening, the benefits of treatment, and screening instrument accuracy.
Topics: Adult; Advisory Committees; Antidepressive Agents; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Depression; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Humans; Mass Screening; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Remission Induction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States
PubMed: 26813212
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2015.18948 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jul 2017Historically, women have generally been attended and supported by other women during labour. However, in hospitals worldwide, continuous support during labour has often...
BACKGROUND
Historically, women have generally been attended and supported by other women during labour. However, in hospitals worldwide, continuous support during labour has often become the exception rather than the routine.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objective was to assess the effects, on women and their babies, of continuous, one-to-one intrapartum support compared with usual care, in any setting. Secondary objectives were to determine whether the effects of continuous support are influenced by:1. Routine practices and policies in the birth environment that may affect a woman's autonomy, freedom of movement and ability to cope with labour, including: policies about the presence of support people of the woman's own choosing; epidural analgesia; and continuous electronic fetal monitoring.2. The provider's relationship to the woman and to the facility: staff member of the facility (and thus has additional loyalties or responsibilities); not a staff member and not part of the woman's social network (present solely for the purpose of providing continuous support, e.g. a doula); or a person chosen by the woman from family members and friends;3. Timing of onset (early or later in labour);4. Model of support (support provided only around the time of childbirth or extended to include support during the antenatal and postpartum periods);5. Country income level (high-income compared to low- and middle-income).
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 October 2016), ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (1 June 2017) and reference lists of retrieved studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
All published and unpublished randomised controlled trials, cluster-randomised trials comparing continuous support during labour with usual care. Quasi-randomised and cross-over designs were not eligible for inclusion.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and risk of bias, extracted data and checked them for accuracy. We sought additional information from the trial authors. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.
MAIN RESULTS
We included a total of 27 trials, and 26 trials involving 15,858 women provided usable outcome data for analysis. These trials were conducted in 17 different countries: 13 trials were conducted in high-income settings; 13 trials in middle-income settings; and no studies in low-income settings. Women allocated to continuous support were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth (average RR 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04 to 1.12; 21 trials, 14,369 women; low-quality evidence) and less likely to report negative ratings of or feelings about their childbirth experience (average RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.79; 11 trials, 11,133 women; low-quality evidence) and to use any intrapartum analgesia (average RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96; 15 trials, 12,433 women). In addition, their labours were shorter (MD -0.69 hours, 95% CI -1.04 to -0.34; 13 trials, 5429 women; low-quality evidence), they were less likely to have a caesarean birth (average RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.88; 24 trials, 15,347 women; low-quality evidence) or instrumental vaginal birth (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.96; 19 trials, 14,118 women), regional analgesia (average RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99; 9 trials, 11,444 women), or a baby with a low five-minute Apgar score (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.85; 14 trials, 12,615 women). Data from two trials for postpartum depression were not combined due to differences in women, hospitals and care providers included; both trials found fewer women developed depressive symptomatology if they had been supported in birth, although this may have been a chance result in one of the studies (low-quality evidence). There was no apparent impact on other intrapartum interventions, maternal or neonatal complications, such as admission to special care nursery (average RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.25; 7 trials, 8897 women; low-quality evidence), and exclusive or any breastfeeding at any time point (average RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.16; 4 trials, 5584 women; low-quality evidence).Subgroup analyses suggested that continuous support was most effective at reducing caesarean birth, when the provider was present in a doula role, and in settings in which epidural analgesia was not routinely available. Continuous labour support in settings where women were not permitted to have companions of their choosing with them in labour, was associated with greater likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth and lower likelihood of a caesarean birth. Subgroup analysis of trials conducted in high-income compared with trials in middle-income countries suggests that continuous labour support offers similar benefits to women and babies for most outcomes, with the exception of caesarean birth, where studies from middle-income countries showed a larger reduction in caesarean birth. No conclusions could be drawn about low-income settings, electronic fetal monitoring, the timing of onset of continuous support or model of support.Risk of bias varied in included studies: no study clearly blinded women and personnel; only one study sufficiently blinded outcome assessors. All other domains were of varying degrees of risk of bias. The quality of evidence was downgraded for lack of blinding in studies and other limitations in study designs, inconsistency, or imprecision of effect estimates.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Continuous support during labour may improve outcomes for women and infants, including increased spontaneous vaginal birth, shorter duration of labour, and decreased caesarean birth, instrumental vaginal birth, use of any analgesia, use of regional analgesia, low five-minute Apgar score and negative feelings about childbirth experiences. We found no evidence of harms of continuous labour support. Subgroup analyses should be interpreted with caution, and considered as exploratory and hypothesis-generating, but evidence suggests continuous support with certain provider characteristics, in settings where epidural analgesia was not routinely available, in settings where women were not permitted to have companions of their choosing in labour, and in middle-income country settings, may have a favourable impact on outcomes such as caesarean birth. Future research on continuous support during labour could focus on longer-term outcomes (breastfeeding, mother-infant interactions, postpartum depression, self-esteem, difficulty mothering) and include more woman-centred outcomes in low-income settings.
Topics: Cesarean Section; Delivery, Obstetric; Doulas; Female; Humans; Labor, Obstetric; Personal Autonomy; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Professional-Patient Relations
PubMed: 28681500
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6 -
Clinical Psychology Review Dec 2018Women with psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period (i.e., perinatal period) are at increased risk for adverse maternal and child outcomes....
Women with psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period (i.e., perinatal period) are at increased risk for adverse maternal and child outcomes. Effective treatment of psychiatric disorders during the perinatal period is imperative. This review summarizes the outcomes of 78 studies focused on the treatment of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders during the perinatal period. The majority of studies focused on perinatal depression (n = 73). Of the five studies focused on anxiety or trauma-related disorders, only one was a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The most studied treatment was cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT; n = 22), followed by interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT; n = 13). Other interventions reviewed include other talk therapies (n = 5), collaborative care models (n = 2), complementary and alternative medicine approaches (n = 18), light therapy (n = 3), brain stimulation (n = 2), and psychopharmacological interventions (n = 13). Eleven studies focused specifically on treatment for low-income and/or minority women. Both CBT and IPT demonstrated a significant benefit over control conditions. However, findings were mixed when these interventions were examined in low-income and/or minority samples. There is some support for complementary and alternative medicine approaches (e.g., exercise). Although scarce, SSRIs demonstrated good efficacy when compared to a placebo. However, SSRIs did not outperform another active treatment condition (e.g., CBT). There is a tremendous need for more studies focused on treatment of perinatal anxiety and trauma-related disorders, as well as psychopharmacological effectiveness studies. Limitations and future directions of perinatal treatment research, particularly among low-income and/or minority populations, are discussed.
Topics: Anxiety Disorders; Complementary Therapies; Depressive Disorder; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Psychotherapy; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
PubMed: 29935979
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2018.06.004 -
Journal of Epidemiology and Community... Jun 2018Teenage mothers are at increased risk for adverse social outcomes and short-term health problems, but long-term impacts on mental health are poorly understood. The aims...
BACKGROUND
Teenage mothers are at increased risk for adverse social outcomes and short-term health problems, but long-term impacts on mental health are poorly understood. The aims of our systematic review were to determine the association between teenage pregnancy and mental health beyond the postpartum period, critically appraise the literature's quality and guide future research.
METHODS
We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science from inception to June 2017 for peer-reviewed articles written in English or French. Data were collected using a modified Cochrane Data Extraction Form. Study quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project critical appraisal tool. Heterogeneity of studies permitted only a qualitative synthesis.
RESULTS
Nine quantitative studies comprising the results from analyses of 11 cohorts met our criteria and were rated as strong (n=5), moderate (n=2) or weak (n=2). Three cohorts found a statistically significant association between teenage pregnancy and poor long-term mental health after adjustment, three found a statistically significant association before but not after adjustment and five did not find a statistically significant association. Studies observed varying degrees of attenuation after considering social context. Studies with statistically significant findings tended to comprise earlier cohorts, with outcomes measured at older ages.
CONCLUSIONS
The association between teenage pregnancy and mental health beyond the postpartum period remains unclear. Future studies should employ age-period-cohort frameworks to disentangle effects of normative patterns and stress accumulation. Social factors are important in determining long-term mental health of teenage mothers and should be prioritised in prevention and intervention strategies.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Maternal Behavior; Mental Health; Mothers; Parenting; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Adolescence; Qualitative Research; Self Concept
PubMed: 29439192
DOI: 10.1136/jech-2017-209923