Hello everyone,
Will there be any negative impact on child when mother was in severe depression during pregnancy and after baby is born ( from birth up to 1 year breastfed)? What type of problems do arise to the child? How can it be prevented from affecting the child? My friend is undergoing the situation. She is not in a position to take any help from her parents, doctor. Please help!!!
Difficult to say. Depends on case to case.
I don't think it is important to get a list of possible problems. It is more important to deal with observed problems with caring.
The most important factor being how the mother acts with the child. The two main kinds 'varieties' I see are mother feeling depressed about the world and her inability to cope while wanting the best for the child and the mother feeling overwhelmed by motherhood and feeling unble to cope with baby. Obviously, the second type is more concerning from the perspective of the baby.
I think she should still try to see how professional help can be taken. A big part of depression is resisting assistance too, so as her friend, perhaps you can help her see it as more 'possible'. Failing that, it is important to interact with people, particularly as many loving, supportive people as possible and to actively work to get in touch with the love and joy the child brings (which sometimes is not easy for a depressed person feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities).
The biggest danger of depression is feelings of inadequacy, loneliness and resistance to change. So, the condition is naturally one where the sufferer feels it is impossible to get aid from others - anyone and particularly strangers (going out) or very intimate people (too many questions). Not just doctor and parents. The person tends to get into a shell, which is not so good for the child, as the parent has very little motivation and even things like hygiene or illness may be ignored and there is no one else around to notice. As her friend, you may have to push into her space to keep nudging her out of the shell. Rope in others to call her, visit, assist with baby and house, etc. It is important to be accepting of her however she is - non-judgmental and offer assistance, but not force. For example, it will only drive her further into her shell if someone visits her to 'draw her out' and ends up commenting on the shabby state of her home. Much better this person does what he or she can without talking about it at all, or stating that they can understand that it can be difficult and to count on them, rather than 'motivate' her to take better care of herself or home. Things like that.
See if she will consent to visiting a doctor if she is accompanied by someone she feels comfortable with.
Digg
