According to a new study, consuming a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids before and during pregnancy can help in preventing postpartum depression.
The findings come at a time when one in every five pregnant women in the U.S. experience depression after conceiving.
Postpartum depression (PPD), or postnatal depression, is moderate to severe depression that affects a woman after birth. One out of every eight women in the U.S. is reported to suffer from such a condition.
Experiencing depression during and after birth can lead to a wide range of health problems like poor weight gain, preeclampsia, premature labor and trouble in bonding with the new born.
Investigators from the University of Montreal and the Sainte-Justine Mother and Child Hospital reviewed 75 published articles to examine the factors that led to PPD.
"The literature shows that there could be a link between pregnancy, omega-3 and the chemical reaction that enables serotonin, a mood regulator, to be released into our brains," Gabriel Shapiro, one of the researchers, said in a news release. "Many women could bring their omega-3 intake to recommended levels."
During and after birth, the baby depends on the mother to get sufficient levels of omega-3 fatty acids. However, this process brings down the maternal omega-3 levels during pregnancy and while breastfeeding the infant.
Concerned by the findings, researchers recommend the necessity to introduce new methods to help mothers maintain sufficient levels of omega-3.
"These findings suggest that new screening strategies and prevention practices may be useful," Shapiro said.
Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for a baby's cognitive and early visual development. Apart from that, following a diet rich with omega-3 after birth helps in producing sufficient breast milk. Previous studies have also shown that omega-3 protects babies against allergies.
