CHECKUP DEPRESSION DRUGS HELP BABY.Byline: - Staff and Wire Services New mothers suffering from postpartum depression Postpartum Depression Definition Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that begins after childbirth and usually lasts beyond six weeks. Description who take anti-depressants are more likely to have infants with healthy weight gain when compared to babies of mothers who went untreated, a study by the UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX Neuropsychiatric neu·ro·psy·chi·a·try n. The medical study of disorders with both neurological and psychiatric features. neu Institute found. The findings suggest women should seek treatment even if they need to take anti-depressants while breast feeding breast feeding Pediatrics The provision of a neonate and infant with liquified lacteal products 'on tap'; lactation and BF–≥ 6 months before age 20 is associated with a relative risk of 0. . Postpartum depression in the first six months after giving birth affects 12 percent to 15 percent of new mothers. Symptoms include low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, inability to enjoy the baby or usual activities, lack of energy, insomnia even when the baby is sleeping, lack of concentration and irritability. The UCLA team studied 78 breast-feeding breast-feeding /breast-feed·ing/ (brest´fed?ing) nursing; the feeding of an infant at the mother's breast. mothers who began taking anti-depressants for mood or anxiety disorders either during pregnancy or within four weeks of giving birth. The average six-month weight of their infants was nearly identical to norms calculated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. in Atlanta, 15 pounds, 14 ounces for girls and 17 pounds, 7 ounces for boys. In contrast, the average six-month weight of infants whose mothers suffered major depression for more than two months was 14 pounds, 12 ounces for girls and 16 pounds for boys. Dr. Victoria Hendrick, the study's lead investigator and director of the institute's pregnancy and postpartum program, said a number of factors could influence the reduced weight gain. Mothers who are depressed might be less inclined to breast feed. Depression also may affect biological variables in the mother's milk, she said. NEW FOLIC ACID LINK: There seems to be a link between two disparate birth defects, Down syndrome and neural tube defects Neural tube defects A group of birth defects that affect the backbone and sometimes the spinal chord. Mentioned in: Birth Defects , and that link is folic acid, an international research group reports. Studies of pregnancy outcomes in Israel and Ukraine find that families with a high incidence of neural tube defects also have an unexpectedly high incidence of Down syndrome. The research was done by a group led by Howard Cuckle, a professor of reproductive endocrinology at the University of Leeds Organisation Faculties The various schools, institutes and centres of the University are arranged into nine faculties, each with a dean, pro-deans and central functions:
Abnormal metabolism of folic acid appears to underlie both defects, the researchers say. The link between folic acid and neural tube detects is well established. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that women who are pregnant or might become pregnant take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to prevent the defect, which affects the brain and spinal cord. But the new study is among the first to suggest a link with Down syndrome, which causes mental retardation. |
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