Study: Depression poses risk during pregnancy

A joint research conducted by Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif and Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. found a direct relationship between depression during pregnancy and major risk for the unborn baby.

Dr. De-Kun Li and Dr. Diana Dell are in unison in saying that depression during pregnancy is a common problem that requires much attention. According to the March of Dimes, a health charity, whose mission is to improve the health of new born and unborn babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. One to two in every 10 pregnant women display symptoms of major depression. In the most recent study of 791 pregnant women, it was revealed that 44 per cent had depressive symptoms and about half of them were severe. Results also indicated that those who had symptoms had twice the chances of giving birth within the 37-week time-frame. At the moment further studies are on-going to provide better information, primarily with the links of anti-depressant with depression during pregnancy.