Study: Women who give birth in winter less likely to have postpartum depression

Many women are affected by postpartum depression, and a new study sets out to investigate potential risk factors and whether it’s possible to avoid them.

The study’s findings, which were presented at the Anesthesiology Annual Meeting, looked at the correlations between postpartum depression and the mother’s body mass index, the gestational age of the baby, and the time of year the child was born.

By reviewing the charts of over 20,000 women, the researchers found new mothers who have a higher body mass index are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression.

The longer the baby has stayed in utero, the less likely a mother is to have postpartum depression difficulties.

Seasons of the year also had an effect. If a woman gave birth in the winter, postpartum depression was less likely to take hold, as compared to summer births which had the highest instances of postpartum depression.

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