May 6, 2011
Women who give birth in fall and winter may be more likely to get postpartum depression than those who deliver in the spring.
Swedish researchers studied more than 2,000 new moms over a one year period.
Participants completed questionnaires on symptoms of depression as well as how much social support they had at five days, six weeks and six months after giving birth.
Between six and fifteen of every 100 mothers reported symptoms of postpartum depression.
After accounting for a variety of factors the team discovered those who gave birth between October and December were nearly twice as likely to have postpartum depression symptoms after six weeks and six months than those who had children between April and June.
The study published in the 'American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology' doesn't prove giving birth in the fall or winter causes postpartum depression.
Study authors say the reason for the link is still unexplained and urged further research on the topic.