(Maya Oppenheim/ The Independent) — Women who give birth to baby boys are much more likely to have postnatal depression, a new study has found.
A study by the University of Kent into postnatal depression (PND) found the odds of developing this condition increased by up to 79 per cent when mothers had boys compared to baby girls.
Overall, for mothers who have sons, the risk of having PND is between 71 and 79 per cent higher than those who have daughters.
And women who suffered complications during birth were 174 per cent more likely to experience PND when compared to those who did not.
Researchers said the findings have led them to the conclusion that acknowledging both male infants and birth complications are PND risk factors can help health professionals identify and support women who may be more likely to develop the condition. (…)