Maternal depression during pregnancy is associated with increased birth weight in term infants.
Previous research of maternal depression during pregnancy suggests an association with low birth weight in newborns. Review of these studies reveals predominant comorbidity with premature birth. This current study examines antenatal depression and birth weight in term, medically low-risk pregnancies. Maternal physiological and demographic measures were collected as well. In total, 227 pregnant women were recruited to participate in four experimental protocols at Columbia University Medical Center. Results indicate that depressed pregnant women who carry to term had significantly higher heart rates, lower heart rate variability, and gave birth to heavier babies than those of pregnant women who were not depressed. Low income participants had significantly higher levels of depression, as well as significantly higher heart rates and lower heart rate variability, than those in higher income groups. In full-term infants, maternal prenatal depression appears to promote higher birth weight, with elevated maternal heart rate as a likely mediating mechanism.
Department of Psychology, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York.|Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York.
Lisa
L
Ecklund-Flores
Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York.|Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.|Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosh University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Michael M
MM
Myers
Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York.|Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.|Department of Obstetrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.|Division of Behavioral Medicine, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York.
Catherine
C
Monk
Department of Psychology, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York.|Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York.
Albany
A
Perez
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosh University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Hein J
HJ
Odendaal
Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York.|Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.|Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosh University, Cape Town, South Africa.
William P
WP
Fifer
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
birth weight; heart rate; heart rate variability; maternal depression; neonatal outcomes; newborn; pregnancy; prenatal depression