Maternal depression can seriously affect a child's development

OTTAWA - One in ten women who are pregnant will experience depression and approximately 13 per cent of new mothers
experience postpartum depression.


Maternal depression can have serious and lasting consequences on a child's development. That is why the Canadian Paediatric
Society's Psychosocial Committee has released a new statement that explores the issue of maternal depression and its affect
on child development. The statement reviews the role of the child's physician in the detection of symptoms of maternal
depression, and in the coordination of appropriate support and management.


"The role of the paediatrician or the physician caring for the infant is to make sure that he or she is thriving in an
adequate, nurturing environment," says Dr. Anne-Claude Bernard-Bonnin, the author of the statement Maternal depression and
child development. "Early recognition of depression is important because a depressed mother will not be in the best position
to understand the cues or signals of her baby. Their interaction will be hampered by the fact that she will not be able to
respond to her child's needs appropriately. Because the physician who takes care of infant also sees the new mother
regularly, he or she might be able to pick up a problem and take action."


The consequences of maternal postpartum depression are not restricted to infancy, but can also extend into toddlerhood,
preschool age, and even school age children. Children of depressed mothers are at risk for developmental and behavioural
problems and may be predisposed for developing depressive disorders themselves.


"Maternal depression can affect children through childhood and adolescence in various degrees," says Dr. Bernard-Bonnin. "A
child not only needs good nutrition and care but also a needs nurturing mother. It is important that the physician be
thinking of this issue."


The statement reviews treatment options and their affect on the infant during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Among the
statement's recommendations:


-- As long-term studies have not shown adverse affects, mothers who have taken anti-depressant medication during pregnancy
should be reassured about the neuro-development of their child.


-- Mothers who have taken anti-depressant medication during lactation should be reassured that much of the evidence to date
shows that there are no neurological or developmental abnormalities in children exposed through breast-milk to such
medication.


The Canadian Paediatric Society is a national professional association, representing more than 2,200 paediatricians, that
advocates for the health needs of children and youth. Its peer-review journal, Paediatrics & Child Health, is published 10
times a year and circulated to 15,500 child health care professionals. For more information about depression in pregnant
women and mothers and how children are affected visit cps.ca & caringforkids.cps.ca.



Media inquiries:

Christine LaRocque

(613) 526-9397, ext. 234

mediacps.ca
Canadian Paediatric Society