Bhubaneswar: Nearly one in eight mothers in Bhubaneswar suffers from postpartum depression, with C-section deliveries and shorter breastfeeding periods emerging as key risk factors, a new study has found.The study, published in the March-April issue of the Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health journal, underlines the need to integrate mental health screening with routine postnatal and breastfeeding care in the state.The study surveyed 107 new mothers across urban pockets of Bhubaneswar and found that 12.1% of them showed symptoms of postpartum depression, a condition marked by persistent sadness, fatigue, sleep disturbances and difficulty bonding with the newborn. While the prevalence is in line with national estimates, researchers flagged specific triggers that significantly increase vulnerability.“Emergency C-sections, in particular, showed a stronger association, pointing to the psychological stress linked to surgical delivery, longer recovery time and unexpected childbirth experiences,” the study said.Decisions regarding breastfeeding also had a strong bearing on maternal mental health. “Women who planned to breastfeed for a year or less had over five times higher chances of suffering from depression, while those planning for 12-24 months faced an even greater risk, compared to mothers intending to breastfeed beyond two years,” the study stated.The researchers also noted that anxiety, stress and other symptoms associated with depression may influence duration and a mother’s ability to breastfeed, creating a vicious cycle.A city-based woman, who works in a bank and who gave birth six months ago through C-section, said she started suffering from postpartum depression while taking care of her son. “After my delivery, I took time to heal and nobody was there to take care of my child when my husband was at work. It was a herculean task to handle a child in this environment. Nursing a child, cooking and handling household chores after sleepless nights for weeks. I have cried so many times. Sometimes I felt helpless and lonely,” she added.Another woman from Ganjam said nobody understood her mental health after the delivery of her daughter eight months ago. “Even the doctor, who was treating me, could not make my family members understand postpartum depression. I was feeling sad for no reason. I was getting irritated due to lack of sleep or extreme tiredness,” she added.A woman from the city’s Patia area, who gave birth three months ago, said she experienced severe mood swings two weeks after childbirth. “I had severe anxiety when my husband was not around me. I could not develop a bond with my baby due to severe pain, mood swings, lack of sleep and household chores,” she added.However, the authors cautioned that high breastfeeding rates alone do not guarantee better maternal mental health. “Our findings highlight the urgent need to screen all new mothers — especially those with C-section births — for postpartum depression and provide timely counselling,” the study said.The researchers recommended integrating depression screening into routine postnatal check-ups, strengthening counselling services at urban primary health centres and expanding family-focused education on maternal mental health.
