Can Prenatal Depression Lead to Depression in Adolescents?

 Virtually, as soon as you announce you are expecting a little one, the advice starts rolling in: do not drink caffeine; do not eat strawberries; do not sleep on your right side. Some of the information is not so good; some are spot-on, but it is all intended to help you have a healthy baby. Now, there is an important new piece of advice moms-to-be should pay attention to treat their prenatal depression.

Depression during pregnancy can have lasting effects that continue long after the baby is born. Researchers state that a mother’s prenatal depression can lead to depression in the child by the time he or she is 18. There are about 11% cases of adolescent depression among children born to women with prenatal depression who had symptoms of the condition by age 18, compared to 7% of adolescents with mothers who were not depressed during pregnancy.

The findings are alarming, especially considering the rate of prenatal depression. The condition is common during pregnancy; in fact, more common than many people realize. About 1 in 5 women will have symptoms while pregnant. Its prevalence and potential for long-lasting harm indicate that mental health professionals, obstetricians, and midwives should screen women for prenatal depression.

Depression is a medical condition that causes changes within the body. One of those changes is the release of stress hormones, including cortisol. In a person with untreated depression, chronically high cortisol levels keep the body in a constant “fight or flight” mode. It’s believed unborn children are affected by the higher levels of stress hormones in the mother’s body. During pregnancy, the placenta acts as a way to get nutrients from mother to child. However, that connection can also allow stress hormones to pass into the baby.

That physical connection between mother and child is what makes prenatal depression dangerous to a child’s future mental health. In postpartum depression, which occurs after pregnancy, the baby may be affected by the mother’s actions, but not in a direct biochemical way. In fact, the British study showed that postpartum depression by itself did not raise the risk that a child would have depression as a teenager.

Professional mental health treatment is essential for both you and your child. Talk therapy is the foundation for relieving symptoms. A licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist will help you identify why you have overwhelming negative thoughts and emotions. When you have determined what is triggering symptoms, you can learn how to cope in a healthy way. Learning to deal with depression will lower stress hormone levels, helping you feel better and reducing the chance that your baby will be exposed to them.

Pregnant women with mild to moderate depression often do not need antidepressants. Most can manage symptoms through a combination of talk therapy and lifestyle changes. However, a physician may recommend medication to relieve severe clinical depression. Some antidepressants can affect an unborn child, raising the risk of heart problems, preterm birth, and low birth weight. If you need an antidepressant, your physician will work closely with you to find the medication that offers the best chance for relief with minimum chance of harm to the baby.