Mikayla Wade

Ms. Bonner
Engl 1120
11-14-2023

Postpartum Depression and its Cognitive Effects on the infant

Nothing compares to the feeling of bringing your new little bundle of joy into the world, the

overwhelming sense of love you feel in that moment is something that can’t be described. What

isn’t talked about as much is the rollercoaster of emotions the woman feels in the days and weeks

after giving birth. For some women, the joy takes over and they recover quickly, some get the

“baby blues” where they don’t quite feel themselves but they find that these feelings don’t last

very long, and other women develop postpartum depression (PPD). In fact, nearly one in seven

women develop PPD sadly, most go undiagnosed and don’t receive the help they need.

Postpartum depression has many effects on the mother most of which limit her ability to take

care of herself and meet her own needs, but it can also limit her ability to meet the needs of the

baby at times. These inabilities to take care of herself and the newborn can create long-term

effects on the infant’s cognitive development which can affect the child in many ways later in

life. While PPD is somewhat of a taboo topic to discuss it is important that we create this safe

space for mothers to discuss their symptoms and help them overcome this “phase” because the

connection between mother and newborn in the early days, weeks, and months are crucial for the

child’s development and mental health later in life.

So, what is postpartum depression and how do we diagnose it? There is a list of criteria

healthcare professionals will look for when diagnosing PPD, these include a low or depressed

mood that is present most of the day, little to no interest in daily activities, insomnia or
hypersomnia, psychomotor retardation or agitation, a feeling or worthlessness or misplaced guilt,

low energy or excessive fatigue, suicidal ideations, poor concertation and decision making skills,

and changes in one’s appetite accompanied by a 5% weight change occurring within 1 month.

The physician will look for these symptoms to have an onset starting around 4 weeks after birth.

These symptoms are not to be confused with the “baby blues”, the feelings the mother has during

the “baby blues” are similar to PPD but the symptoms start within the first few days of childbirth

but resolve around 10 days postpartum. While PPD can affect every mother after childbirth

studies have shown that some individuals are more susceptible to developing PPD. Some factors

that may influence how likely a person is to develop PPD are a history of depression before or

during pregnancy, having a high-risk pregnancy, and having a lack of social support amongst

other outside factors. Some physical factors that can influence PPD are the rapid drop in the

reproductive hormones (progesterone and estrogen) that our bodies spent 9 months increasing.

Other hormones like oxytocin and prolactin can even lead to PPD, it has been found that these

hormones are what help the woman produce milk as well as the let-down reflex, and a link has

been noted that when a woman experiences lactation difficulties they are at higher risk of

developing PPD. One thing to note is that in order for a mother to have a sufficient milk supply

she must eat and maintain hydration which are two things many women suffering from PPD

have a hard time doing. Some studies have even found that race can influence who experiences

PPD and how early after childbirth these symptoms start occurring. Research has shown women

of African American and Hispanic descent are more likely to experience PPD sooner, within 2

weeks of delivery, while Caucasian women report their symptoms starting later in the postpartum

period. All of these factors are difficult on the mother but there is a “trickle-down effect” of

sorts that can also impact the marital and family life causing strain in the home and we s=further
see strain on the mother-infant bonding that should be taking place in those early days due to the

new mom's emotional state and inability to care for herself.

The bond that a mother and her infant create in those early postpartum days is a delicate and

crucial part of the baby’s development. This instinct for the mother to bond with their new

addition isn’t always instant but it can develop over the days/weeks. Bonding with your baby

gives them a sense of safety and security, but also builds their self-esteem. There are many ways

a mother and infant can bond for example, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin, rocking your baby to

sleep, and staring into your newborn’s eyes are all ways mothers will instinctually bond with

their little ones. While the bonding takes place the baby begins to build a secure attachment with

their mothers this allows the baby to learn that when they cry their parent will be there to soothe

them and meet their needs whatever that may be. Creating this attachment not only benefits the

infant early in life but will later benefit the child’s development.

A baby’s brain undergoes huge changes within the first two years of life and by the age of

three, a child’s brain is 90% its final adult size. “This rapid brain growth and circuitry have been

estimated at an astounding rate of 700–1000 synapse connections per second in this period.” This

means that the social, emotional, and conative development of the infant is all dependent on a

strong, loving bond between them and their caretaker, typically but not always the mother. These

continuous bonding actions and caretaking measures are what create the “hardwiring” in the

child’s brain. If these connecting moments don’t occur, and the infant has an insecure attachment

with their mother there can be some physical changes to the child’s brain such as reduced growth

in the left hemisphere of the brain, which is linked to increased risk for depression, sensitivity in

the limbic system which is associated with anxiety disorders, and reduced hippocampal growth

which is needed for short term memory. The effects of these physical changes as well as the
insecure attachment can lead to the child displaying aggressive behaviors, depression, anxiety,

irritability, poor impulse control, and social functioning.

When we look at the connection between mother and baby, we see that it is a crucial part of

the developmental process and the relationship between the two is needed to promote an overall

emotional well-being for the child later in life. Individuals struggling with postpartum depression

not only have a hard time caring for themselves but also for their newborns. The bonding phase

doesn’t come as naturally, the fatigue and exhaustion can sometimes cause resentment towards

the infant. The anxiety a new mother feels about accidentally harming the baby or doing

something wrong can also impair their ability to meet the child’s needs. The symptoms of PPD

don’t look the same for every woman either, some episodes can be more intense than others and

the mother can experience drastic mood changes, delusional beliefs, and intrusive thoughts. All

these symptoms should not be ignored and addressed with their physician immediately. With this

in mind, it’s not hard to see why this connection between the two is strained. The mother is

unable to put herself in the mental space to meet these needs thus putting strain on the child.

However, this is not the mother’s fault and with the lack of social support most first-time moms

feel it is easy to carry this “mom” guilt and not want to open up about the struggles she is dealing

with, which is why most women go undiagnosed.

So, we see the effects of PPD on the mother, we see how important a mother-infant

relationship is, and we see why the two go hand in hand. How do we make sure a new mom is

supported? There are many options and measures that can be taken to help someone suffering

from PPD, first, we have to open up to ourselves and those we trust that we are struggling. Not

everyone has the “village” to help with the baby but there are so many mommy groups of like-

minded individuals to help give the support system. Talking to a doctor as soon as the symptoms
start can help them guide your treatment, some people opt for short-term talk therapy. Your

doctor may prescribe Antidepressant medications, which can be taken short-term but also long-

term as needed. Some studies have looked into the connection between PPD and the drop in the

hormone progesterone and estrogen. In one study it was shown that taking estrogen after delivery

significantly helped the mother recover faster and showed a great improvement in her PPD

symptoms, this study also suggested that the mother receive estrogen and slowly taper off the

hormone over time. The effectiveness of progesterone after delivery is still being studied but

could hold promising results. Outside of medical intervention, there are ways to help soothe the

symptoms of PPD, like, getting out of the house whenever possible and doing some form of

physical activity has been found to be helpful. There is an organization called “Postpartum

Support International” that individuals can call and get connected to help find providers who

specialize in PPD treatment and care. Staying hydrated and making time to eat are great ways to

practice a little self-care but also make some time to do the things that used to bring enjoyment.

All of these acts I like to consider self-care, when a mother is able to meet her needs, meeting the

needs of the infant comes more naturally.

Postpartum depression is taboo and that needs to change, so many women suffer in silence,

but they are not alone. The pressure a new mom feels to be perfect is overwhelming, once we

talk about it more and break the stigma getting help becomes more possible and less shameful. It

is okay to not feel okay and it's okay to open up about the changes to your world. There are

options to help during this new transition and adventure. Getting the needed help will give not

only the mother a great postpartum experience but will also help the infant grow into a confident,

emotionally intelligent, and well-rounded child, and future adult. These moments may seem

small but the impacts they can have are huge.

Mughal, Saba, et al. “Postpartum Depression - Statpearls - NCBI Bookshelf.” Start Pearls, U.S.
National Library of Medicine, 7 Oct. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519070/.

Darvishvand, Masoomeh, et al. “Mother-Infant Relationship and Its Predictors.” JBRA Assisted
Reproduction, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 17 Jan. 2022,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8769182/#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20the
%20lack%20of,et%20al.%2C%202020).

Winston, Robert, and Rebecca Chicot. “The Importance of Early Bonding on the Long-Term
Mental Health and Resilience of Children.” London Journal of Primary Care, U.S.
National Library of Medicine, 24 Feb. 2016,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5330336/.

Chatterjee, Rhitu. “What Is Postpartum Depression? How to Recognize the Signs and Get
Help.” NPR, NPR, 28 Jan. 2020, www.npr.org/2020/01/27/800139124/what-is-postpartum-
depression-recognizing-the-signs-and-getting-help.

Sit, Dorothy K Y, and Katherine L Wisner. “Identification of Postpartum Depression.” Clinical

Fitelson, Elizabeth, et al. “Treatment of Postpartum Depression: Clinical, Psychological and