Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: Gestational Weight Gain as a Risk Factor for Adolescents Who Are Overweight or Obese

Abstract

Adolescents who enter pregnancy overweight or obese and experience excessive weight gain may be at increased risk for postpartum depressive symptoms. Health care providers should offer preventive interventions during pregnancy and the interconceptional period to support healthy weight gain and safeguard women's mental health.

Depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum: a prospective cohort study

“…PPD is a debilitating disorder that can affect not only maternal function and overall health but also the health of the infant and the entire family . The negative effects of PPD include poor self‐care, malnutrition, noncompliance with prenatal care, higher rates of tobacco and alcohol use, pregnancy‐related complications such as early gestational age at birth and low birth weight, impaired mother‐infant attachment, lower rates of breastfeeding, marital discord, and poor parenting . However, PPD is still considered as one of the health problem which remains underdiagnosed and untreated in many countries, possibly because the postpartum period in which PPD symptoms arise marks a time away from healthcare personnel at the new mother's home.…”

“…Such standards are in place because the early detection and early intervention of PPD are critical and require knowledge of postpartum depressive symptoms, the identification of women at risk, and education about the symptoms for both women and all members of their families. Because, suicide is the most devastating results of depression in women during the postpartum period …”

“…[9][10][11] The negative effects of PPD include poor self-care, malnutrition, noncompliance with prenatal care, higher rates of tobacco and alcohol use, 11,12 pregnancy-related complications such as early gestational age at birth and low birth weight, 13,14 impaired mother-infant attachment, 14,15 lower rates of breastfeeding, marital discord, and poor parenting. 11,12 However, PPD is still considered as one of the health problem which remains underdiagnosed and untreated in many countries, 7,16 possibly because the postpartum period in which PPD symptoms arise marks a time away from healthcare personnel at the new mother's home. Many women may be unaware of symptoms of PPD or feel guilty of having depressive feelings at a time when they believe that they should be happy, and consequently, they may tend to conceal those symptoms.…”

“…Many women may be unaware of symptoms of PPD or feel guilty of having depressive feelings at a time when they believe that they should be happy, and consequently, they may tend to conceal those symptoms. 10,17 Screening for perinatal depression is now considered to be standard in many settings, 1,10,11,18 19 According to the manual, follow-ups of the new mothers should be at the 1st week (5th-7th days) and between 5 and 6 weeks (30 th -42 nd days) of the postpartum period.…”

“…Because, suicide is the most devastating results of depression in women during the postpartum period. 11 Previously identified risk factors of PPD include sociodemographic characteristics of women and their families (eg, primary education compared with secondary education, 4 advanced age, 15 large family structure, and low household income), health-related characteristics of women (eg, physical and mental health problems), and characteristics of healthcare and delivery services (eg, type of delivery and provision of antenatal care). 4,8,12,15,20 Along with those psychological and social risk factors, researchers have determined some biological risk factors of PPD that may contribute to its etiology.…”