Exercise can help new mothers beat postnatal blues--study
The women were further divided in two groups randomly. Mothers in the first group were given an eight week "Mother and Baby" program, involving physiotherapist supervised exercises combined with a parental education program.
However, the women in the other group were only given the written parental education material.
All the women in the study were investigated for psychological fitness and depression symptoms using the Positive Affect Balance Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale respectively after the completion of the program.
Revelations of the study
The researchers claim that the mothers who received the education program as well as the exercise program showed much fewer depression symptoms than the ones who received only the written material.
There was a 50 percent reduction in the depression symptoms in women who were at high risk of postnatal depression in the "Mother and Baby" program, revealed the researchers.
The positive effects continued for four weeks after the program ended.
"There were significant improvements in wellbeing scores and depressive symptoms in the "Mother and Baby" group compared with the "Education Only" group over the study period,” said study coordinator, Ms Emily Norman of the University of Melbourne's Physiotherapy Department.
The study was published in the March issue of Physical Therapy, the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Postnatal depression
Postnatal depression (PND), also known as postpartum depression, usually affects women after childbirth. However it might hit new fathers too.
Statistics claim that around 80 percent of all new mums suffer from maternity blues or mood swings, with around 20 percent suffering from severe postnatal depression symptoms.
Significant changes in the hormones of a woman during her pregnancy and sleep deprivation are the main causes behind PND.
Sadness, fatigue, insomnia, reduced libido and changes in appetite are some common symptoms of the disease.
Support groups, a healthy diet, counseling medication and healthy sleep patterns, besides some exercise can surely help young mothers get rid of maternity blues and PND.