Exercise-only programmes help cut the severity of the 'baby blues' and the risk of major clinical depression in new mums, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. But at least 80 weekly minutes of moderate intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, water aerobics, stationary cycling, and resistance training with bands, weights, or body weight are needed to achieve the effects, the findings show. Maternal depression and anxiety are relatively common after giving birth and associated with reduced self-care and compromised infant caregiving and bonding, which can in turn affect the child's cognitive, emotional, and social development, explain the researchers.
Conventional treatments for depression and anxiety in the first weeks and months after giving birth mostly involve drugs and counselling, which are often associated with, respectively, side effects and poor adherence, and lack of timely access and expense. Previously published research suggests that physical activity is an effective and affordable treatment for depression/anxiety, in general, but it's not known whether it can reduce the severity of the 'baby blues' in the first few weeks after giving birth or lower the risk of major postpartum depression several months later, say the researchers. To shed further light on this and inform future guidelines, the researchers looked for relevant studies published up to January 2024 that compared various interven.