In recent years, mental health problems in pregnancy have been found to increase the risk of certain negative consequences for mothers and children. It is known, for example, that depression during pregnancy can affect the baby’s brain and neurological development in infancy, as well as negatively influence the bond between mothers and children during the baby’s first year of life.
Now, a recent study has found that experiencing anxiety or depression during pregnancy may also increase the likelihood of having a C-section , an intervention that should not be taken lightly because of the risks it poses to mom and baby.
The study
Published in the scientific journal Health Affairs , the research conducted by the University of Michigan analyzed the influence of the mother’s mental health on the type of delivery she might have.
With data from 360,225 deliveries performed between 2008 and 2017 , the study is among the largest to document a link between mental health disorders in pregnancy and first-time cesarean sections among low-risk pregnant women.
According to their results, women with a prenatal diagnosis of anxiety or depression were 3.5% more likely to have a C-section for the first time , compared to women without anxiety or depression.
” Our findings reinforce the importance of improving the detection and treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety disorders in pregnant women ,” comments gynecologist Vanessa Dalton, lead author and OB-GYN at the University of Michigan Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital in a release.
” It is critical to better understand how these mood disorders increase the likelihood of cesarean deliveries, which we know have both short-term and long-term health consequences for both expectant mothers and their babies .”
As we know, anxiety and depression during pregnancy are more common than in previous generations, and after an experience like the pandemic we are currently experiencing, they may continue to increase.
So far, the causes of the relationship between mental health disorders and the risk of cesarean section have not been proven , but scientists have some theories.
For one thing, prenatal anxiety is sometimes thought to focus on the timing of delivery itself, which can make delivery difficult and lead providers to resort to cesarean delivery.
Another theory suggests that mental disorders can affect the development of the placenta, which in turn can affect symptoms of fetal distress during labor, which could lead to a cesarean section.
In either case, the conclusion of the study is this: improve mental health care for women during pregnancy , in order to offer timely diagnosis and treatment.
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