If you are a new mother, or know someone who is, you can reduce the risk of developing postnatal depression if you find time to exercise for more than an hour every week, according to a new study. The analysis , published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, examined 35 studies involving more than 4,000 women from 14 different countries and pooled data from available evidence on the impact of exercise after childbirth. Also read | Maternal mental health: Baby blues vs postpartum depression, know the difference What are the findings The research suggests that new mothers’ odds of having ‘baby blues’ fall by 45 percent among those who are active.
Exercising for at least 80 minutes each week could also help reduce symptoms among new mothers who have depression or anxiety, researchers found. They added that new mothers could restart exercise with 'gentle' walks, which they could do with their babies, and then increase to 'moderate' activity when they were ready. This moderate physical activity could include brisk walking, water aerobics, stationary cycling or resistance training.
However, the researchers acknowledged that finding the time would not be easy amid the new responsibilities and challenges, and recovery from childbirth should be prioritised. Exercise reduces severity of postpartum depression Starting exercise before 12 weeks after birth was linked to a greater reduction in depressive symptoms than starting it later. And the greater the exercise volume the g.