Fetal sex and maternal postpartum depressive symptoms: findings from two prospective pregnancy cohorts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fetal sex is known to modify the course and complications of pregnancy, with recent evidence of sex-differential fetal influences on the maternal immune and endocrine systems. In turn, heightened inflammation and surges in reproductive hormone levels associated with pregnancy and parturition have been linked with the development of perinatal depression. Here, we examined whether there is an association between fetal sex and maternal depression assessed during the prenatal and postnatal periods.

Methods

The study included two multi-ethnic, prospective pregnancy cohorts that enrolled women from prenatal clinics in the Northeastern United States between 2001 and 2018. Maternal depressive symptoms were measured during the prenatal and postnatal periods using the Edinb

SUBMITTER: Cowell W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7789145 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature