Although it may seem surprising, depression can affect even the youngest. Depression in a newborn is a serious problem that often goes unnoticed or underestimated. Early recognition of symptoms and appropriate intervention are crucial for the child’s proper development.
What is depression in a newborn?
Depression in a newborn is a mood disorder that manifests itself in loss of interest in the environment, apathy, feeding and sleep problems. Unlike the “baby blues,” or short-lived postpartum sadness, depression in infants lasts for a longer period of time and can have serious consequences for the child’s development.
Causes of depression in newborns
The causes of depression in newborns are complex and not fully understood. Major risk factors include:
- Genetic factors: genetic predisposition to depression in parents increases the risk of the disorder in the child.
- Perinatal problems: Difficult labor, premature birth, low birth weight, and stay in the neonatal intensive care unit can increase a child’s risk of depression .
- Maternal depression: Postpartum depression in the mother has a negative impact on the child’s emotional development and may contribute to depression in the newborn.
- Lack of bond with caregiver: Lack of a close bond with a caregiver, emotional neglect, and lack of stimulation interfere with a child’s normal development and can lead to depression.
- Neurological disorders: Some neurological disorders may increase the risk of depression in the newborn.
Symptoms of depression in a newborn – Don’t miss them!
Recognizing depression in a newborn is difficult because infants cannot verbally express their emotions. Therefore, parents and caregivers should be especially attentive and pay attention to any alarming signals.
The most common symptoms of depression in newborns include:
- Crying and irritability: the child cries frequently and for no apparent reason, and is difficult to calm down.
- Apathy and lack of interest in the environment: The child is lethargic, has little movement, does not respond to environmental stimuli, and avoids eye contact.
- Feeding problems: The child has a poor appetite, refuses to eat, has trouble sucking and swallowing.
- Sleep disorders: the child has trouble falling asleep, wakes up frequently during the night, has nightmares.
- Delay in psychomotor development: The child is slower to acquire new skills, e.g., starting to smile, babble, hold his head later.
- Gastrointestinal problems: the child may suffer from constipation, diarrhea, bloating.
- Reduced immunity: the child is sick more often, prone to infections.
Diagnosis and treatment of depression in newborns
If you notice alarming symptoms in your child, it is essential to consult a pediatrician or child psychologist. Diagnosis of depression in a newborn is based on observation of the child’s behavior, interview with the parents and exclusion of other causes of the ailment.
Treatment of depression in newborns depends on the severity of symptoms and the cause of the disorder. The most commonly used methods are:
- Psychotherapy: therapy focused on building a bond between the child and caregiver, stimulating the child’s emotional and social development.
- Pharmacotherapy: In some cases, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants. Only if the benefits of their use outweigh the potential risks.
- Parental support: It is important that parents receive psychological and educational support to help them cope with their difficulties and provide optimal conditions for their child’s development.
Prevention of depression in newborns
Although the risk of depression in a newborn cannot be completely eliminated, there are factors that can reduce the likelihood of this disorder:
- Healthy lifestyle during pregnancy: Proper nutrition, physical activity, avoidance of stress and addictions during pregnancy have a positive impact on the development of the baby and can reduce the risk of depression.
- Building a strong bond with the child: A close bond with a caregiver, tenderness, warmth, and responsiveness to the child’s needs are the basis for proper emotional development and protection against depression.
- Social support: Support from partner, family, friends is extremely important for young parents and helps them cope with the challenges of caring for a child.
- Taking care of the mother’s mental health: Prevention and treatment of postpartum depression in the mother is an important part of prevention of depression in the newborn.
Summary
Depression in a newborn is a serious problem that can have a negative impact on a child’s development. Early recognition of the symptoms and the initiation of appropriate treatment are key to giving your child a chance to develop properly. Remember that you are not alone! When in doubt, you can always seek help from a specialist.
