Babies May Benefit From Moms’ Lasting Melancholy

Maddi Sunshine
Dr. Boyd
Biology 1-2 Honors
Babies May Benefit From Moms’ Lasting Melancholy
Summary:
A double dose of mom’s depression may do a baby good. Psychologist Curt Sandman says that babies thrive physically and mentally if their moms’ emotion condition is stable before and after birth (healthy or depressed). Children whose mothers were depressed from the fourth month being pregnant on showed first-year mental and physical development compared to those whose moms stayed emotionally healthy during the same time. Babies’ first year physical and mental developed stayed behind id their mothers’ emotions during pregnancy changed after the birth. “A human fetus that prepares for inadequate care after birth based on biological message from a depressed mother will have a survival advantage,” Sandman says.
Critique & Impact:
I think this was very interesting to learn about. I didn’t know that if a mothers emotions were changing constantly during pregnancy and after birth it could affect the babies first year. It really shows how important it is for women to maintain their emotionally and physical heath during and after pregnancy.
Reference:
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/genewric/id/336332/title/Babies_may_benefit_from_moms’_lasting_melancholy