Caesarean ops 'no help for blues'

http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.p...st_item&id=633

"Caesarean ops 'no help for blues'", BBC News, February 25, 2005,
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4294401.stm

Planned Caesarean sections do not protect women from postnatal
depression, according to a study.

A number of small studies had produced conflicting results, but some
suggested traumatic deliveries might increase the risk of postnatal
depression.

However the latest study in the British Medical Journal involving more
than 14,000 women gives conclusive evidence this is not the case, UK
experts said.

This is helpful to both women and their doctors, they said.

Up to 15% of women experience depression after giving birth - similar
to rates of depression in the population generally.

The process of labour is recognised as big event in a woman's life, and
can prove stressful.

Complications during delivery that make it necessary to do an emergency
Caesarean section or use implements such as forceps could make things
even more stressful, some studies say.

Support

But Professor Deidre Murphy of Dundee University, working with
colleagues from Bath University, found no evidence of an increased risk
of depression and the type of delivery.

They questioned the women eight weeks after they had given birth and
assessed whether any showed signs of postnatal depression.

Prof Murphy said: "What this tells us is that if a woman is perceived
to be at high risk of postnatal depression, offering an elective
Caesarean section is not a sensible approach purely to avoid the
depression.

"Even if emergency Caesarean section or assisted vaginal delivery is
required, women can be reassured that there is no reason to believe
that they are more likely to experience postnatal depression."

She said what was more important was ensuring that new mothers were
given the support they needed, and for healthcare professionals to be
mindful of which women might be at higher risk - such as those who had
experienced postnatal depression before.

Caesarean trend

Prof Murphy said a growing number of women were undergoing Caesarean
sections, partly because women were getting fatter and babies bigger.

"Big babies get stuck and fat women do not labour as well," she said.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence produced guidelines last
year advising doctors to discourage pregnant women from having
Caesareans if they did not need them.

Prof Shaughn O'Brien, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, said the study gave "clear and conclusive evidence"
that Caesarean sections were not in any way linked to postnatal
depression.

The Department of Health said it was encouraging more choice in
maternity services, so that whenever possible women could choose where
to give birth and the type of care they would receive.

A spokeswoman said the Caesarean rate remained at 22% in 2002-03. More
than half of these were emergency operations.

"Roman Bystrianyk" wrote in message
oups.com...
http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.p...st_item&id=633

"Caesarean ops 'no help for blues'", BBC News, February 25, 2005,
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4294401.stm

Planned Caesarean sections do not protect women from postnatal
depression, according to a study.



They had to do a study to figure that out?

Jenrose

Well, DUH! Even in a planned C-section, you still have the pain of the
C-section to deal with, and added to the baby and everything which goes with
it, if anything you'd expect MORE depression.

--
Donna DeVore Metler
Orff Music Specialist/Band/Choir
Mother to Angel Brian Anthony 1/1/2002, 22 weeks, severe PE/HELLP
And Allison Joy, 11/26/04 (35 weeks, PIH, Pre-term labor)

if anything you'd expect MORE depression.

ITA, and I speak from experience! I had only mild (comparably)
depression after my first vaginal birth (and that probably could be
attributed to having to stay in bed for a month after the birth). I've
had NONE after this baby. After my three sections, I cried off and on
for a month.

Leslie