It is common knowledge that many women suffer from depression immediately after having a child, but giving birth could be far more emotionally damaging than it was ever before known to be, a new study finds.
According to the study, one in four women suffers from post-traumatic stress after labor.
Related Stories
- Excess Weight During Pregnancy Affects Children’s Health
- Mom’s Stress During Pregnancy Affects Baby’s Iron Levels
- Can Laughter Help You Get Pregnant?
Mental health professionals have been in disagreement in recent years whether childbirth can be defined as a traumatic experience. Past research found that some mothers report feeling their bodies being torn apart or irreparably damaged during labor.
In an effort to look into the issue in Israel, scientists at the Beer Yaakov Mental Health Center, the Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medicine developed a questionnaire aimed at determining how traumatizing childbirth is. Eighty-nine women aged 20-40 answered the survey and were monitored for a month after having their child. Standardized scales used to measure posttraumatic stress were employed.
The analysis found that a month after giving birth, 26% of the mothers suffered to some extent from symptoms typical of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Via Ynet
Facebook comments