C-sections Dont Help With Baby Blues
Reported February 25, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Women considered at risk for postpartum depression arent likely to benefit from having a planned cesarean section, shows a new study out of Great Britain.
Results show no difference in postpartum depression rates between women who had planned C-sections and those who had normal vaginal deliveries, emergency C-sections, or vaginal deliveries requiring the use of forceps or vacuum extraction.
The investigators conducted the study to find out whether planned C-sections, which take some of the stress out of the delivery process because women know when they will deliver and are spared potentially difficult and lengthy labors, may reduce the risk of postpartum depression. Several small studies have suggested this might be the case.
The study involved more than 14,000 women who were surveyed about eight weeks after the birth of their babies. Depressive symptoms were measured using a standard scale.
Understanding the association between postnatal depression and cesarean section helps women to make informed choices about mode of delivery, write the authors. There is no reason for women with a history of depression or those at high risk of depression to be managed differently with regard to mode of delivery.
SOURCE: British Medical Journal, published online Feb. 24, 2005