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Postpartum Depression May Be Linked To Colic |
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According to the Archives of Diseases in Childhood, May
2006 which was recently in the news- the research study results out of
Turkey suggest that postpartum depression may be linked to colic.
However, this is just a suggestion. The lead author of the study stated
that colic is extremely common among infants. He also said that there is
still only a small amount of information toward deciding whether or not
it is linked to postpartum depression in the mother.
The study was conducted with 78 mothers who had given birth
within a month. They were asked to take tests that were standardized
across the board that had as their goal the detection of postpartum
depression. Meanwhile, each of these mothers' babies was also tested –
for colic.
Of the 78 mothers, 10 were in a high risk category for
postpartum depression. Of the 78 infants, 17 had colic. The percentage
of mothers at high risk for postpartum depression that also had colicky
babies was significantly higher than mothers not at risk.
The
possible link between colic and postpartum depression may be found in
the fact that women with the problem often don't form a very strong bond
with their new babies. The lack of attachment may be a contributory
factor to the baby's colic. The mothers who tested as having attachment
disorder, a relative of postpartum depression, were much more likely to
have a baby with colic.
The possibility that colic may be linked to
postpartum depression is not without its solution. Early diagnosis and
treatment of the mother's state of mind can decrease the possibility of
detachment between mother and child as well as colic. Of course, further
studies are necessary to definitively determine whether or not
postpartum depression and colic are linked.
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