Women that suffer depression including post-partum depression are likely to be more unresponsive to the needs of their infants. We know that babies cry as there only means of communication for different reasons. Cries can be for a wide array of reasons from being hungry to a wet diaper. These cries can range from gentle cries to screeching depending on their needs and the amount of time their needs are left unattended to.

When the mother is depressed she tends to respond to the infant with less sensitivity and concern than a mother who is not suffering from depression. Mothers that are depressed display much higher levels of anxiety when responding to cries of pain than mothers who are not. Anxiety of the mom can create negative interactions with their child. The normal baby talk and cuddling between a depressed mom and child may be diminished
as well as the effectiveness of the mother to deal with the needs of the child.

Post-partum depression is not totally understood as to how it affects certain women and not others. It seems to be more prevalent when there are no close relatives or extended family members available for support or interaction. A feeling of being alone or shut in seems to cause depression in some women. Much more research is definitely needed in this area as this depression can last from weeks to month. Post-partum depression usually passes within six months; however, that is quite a long period of time.

The depressed mother’s interaction with their newborns and infants is very concerning because the mothers actions or inactions can have some possible negative long term effects. These effects can include the child having problems with normal social and emotional development later on in life. These children can lose their natural ability to communicate or relate effectively creating more lost children in our society. The ability to give and receive affection is very important and starts with their interaction with mom.

It is very important for mothers that experience post-partum depression to speak with their physicians as this can be or become a very serious situation and affects their child and the mother’s ability for good parenting skills. We have to be willing to admit there is a problem in order to get help. A depressed mom might feel embarrassed or ashamed of how she is feeling and not want to admit to her feelings.

If you have family members or close friends that have recently given birth or have an infant, pay close attention to their interactions with their child for any signs of unusual behavior. If there is something that seems “out of place” or they don’t “seem like themselves”, talk to them and maybe offer to help out in some way. Possibly offering to give the new mom a break and watch the baby for a few hours or overnight might be enough to get them out of a slump. Remember, we all need some “me” time. A little help from a family member or friend could mean a lot to both the mom and child in the long term and our society as a whole.