Cold can beat baby blues

Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj

Many new moms experience postpartum depression (PPD) or postnatal depression, popularly known as ‘baby blues', with variable intensity. The PPD is a depressive disorder experienced by women post-childbirth and can cause sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, exhaustion and occasionally, numbness. PPD is considered to be a long-lasting and serious condition that can have detrimental effects on a woman's state of mind. 

Seasons can play a critical role in managing the PPD. It has been witnessed that having a baby in winter or spring months may have a protective influence on new mothers, making them less likely to develop postpartum depression.

Many people may experience some health-related challenges in winters. These problems happen as cold, dark months, having less daylight hours, are associated with worsening mental health, especially for people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) that is linked to lack of light and vitamin D. 

However, many studies have found that having a child in winter months can actually protect mothers against postnatal depression. At least 10 per cent of new mothers are likely to be affected with postpartum depression, anxiety etc. The symptoms of PPD can be distinguish through sadness, restlessness and/or agitation and decreased concentration. PPD normally arises from a combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustments to motherhood and fatigue. 

Left untreated, PPD can interfere with mother-child bonding and cause distress to the mother, baby and the entire family. Sometimes, postpartum depression in women can become so severe that they get suicidal tendencies and can harm themselves and the child. 

Women who did not have anaesthesia, such as an epidural, during delivery have an increased risk of PPD. It is because the pain associated with labour may have been traumatising to the women during delivery. In addition, increased body mass index (BMI) is also associated with an increased risk of postpartum depression, say researchers.

Delivering in winter or spring may have a protective outcome against PPD as women spend more time indoors with their newborns. New moms, who spend more time every day with their baby, cope with the stresses of motherhood better than those who do not. 

There are also many studies that say that women, who deliver babies at a higher gestational age, are more mature, and this is likely to help decrease the risk of PPD. Studies also suggest that a mother will do better and be less mentally stressed when delivering a mature, healthy baby. Having a baby is always incredibly taxing and it may be more stressful in case of a premature or medically fragile baby that can increase the mother's risk of developing PPD.

Seasons, too, can have an impact on health and mood of individuals, especially new mothers. PPD is a serious condition and we need to create awareness about it. Educating family members, partners and friends can go a long way to protecting the wellbeing of new mothers and babies.

— The writer is a gynaecologist, obstetrician, Nurture IVF Centre, New Delhi.