Mums Who Experience Postnatal Depression Reluctant to Have Big Families

A new study has found that women who have suffered from postnatal depression are unlikely to have more than two children.

Researchers from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom examined data from more than 300 mothers born in the early to mid 20th century, with the majority based in industrialised countries while raising their children.

They found that postnatal depression, particularly after the birth of a first child, leads to lowered fertility levels. Women who experienced higher levels of emotional distress after their first time as a new mum were unlikely to have a third child, but it didn’t affect whether or not she would have a second child.

The researchers also found that women who had postnatal depression after both their first and second babies were born were reluctant to have a third child, to the same extent as if they had experienced a major complication giving birth.

The study, published in the journal Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, is the first research to highlight the potential role that postnatal depression plays in population ageing, where the median age of a country becomes older over time.

The change in demographic is mostly caused by women having fewer children, and can have significant social and economic consequences.

Postnatal depression is thought to be experienced by around 13% of mothers in industrialised countries, and emotional distress curing in up to 63% of mothers with infants.

The researchers suggest that investing in screening and preventative measures for new mums to take care of their mental health might reduce costs and problems associated with an ageing population into the future.