Associations of Infertility With Depressive Symptom Change Across Specific Life Stages (Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Midlife) Among Parous Women

 The experience of infertility among parous women is associated with a greater increase in depressive symptoms between the post-partum period and midlife.

Risk of adverse infant outcomes associated with maternal mental health and substance use disorders

This study aimed to evaluate the association of mental health and substance use disorders on the risk of adverse infant outcomes overall and by race/ethnicity and payer. Given the risk of adverse infant outcomes associated with mental health and substance use disorders across racial/ethnic groups and payers, our findings highlight the critical importance of policies and clinical guidelines that support early identification and treatment of a broad spectrum of mental health and substance use disorders throughout the perinatal period.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes After Late Preterm Antenatal Corticosteroids: The ALPS Follow-Up Study

The Antenatal Late Preterm Steroids (ALPS) trial changed clinical practice in the United States by finding that antenatal betamethasone at 34 to 36 weeks decreased short-term neonatal respiratory morbidity. However, the trial also found increased risk of neonatal hypoglycemia after betamethasone. This follow-up study focused on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes after late preterm steroids. In this follow-up study of a randomized clinical trial, administration of antenatal corticosteroids to persons at risk of late preterm delivery, originally shown to improve short-term neonatal respiratory outcomes but with an increased rate of hypoglycemia, was not associated with adverse childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 6 years or older.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) and the risk of Maternal Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The objective was to review and synthesize the published literature on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and subsequent risk of maternal dementia or cognitive impairment. Findings suggest that women whose pregnancies were complicated by preeclampsia (PE) appear to be at a substantially increased future risk of vascular dementia. The longer-term risks for these women in regards to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are less clear. 

Association of breastfeeding and neonatal jaundice with infant neurodevelopment

Data comes from the Jiangsu Birth Cohort (JBC), a prospective and longitudinal birth cohort study in China. A total of 2577 infants born from November 2017 to March 2021 were included in the analysis. Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze the associations between breastfeeding status, neonatal jaundice, and their interaction with infant neurodevelopment. Findings suggest that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is beneficial to the neurodevelopment of infants, especially in those with severe neonatal jaundice.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on postnatal depression: analysis of three population-based national maternity surveys in England (2014–2020)

This analysis indicates that Covid-19 had an important negative impact on postnatal women's mental health and may have accelerated an existing trend of increasing prevalence of postnatal depression. Risk factors for postnatal depression were consistent before and during the pandemic. Timely identification, intervention and follow-up are key to supporting women at risk, and it is essential that mechanisms to support women are strengthened during times of heightened risk such as the pandemic.

Association of Birth During the COVID-19 Pandemic With Neurodevelopmental Status at 6 Months in Infants With and Without In Utero Exposure to Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The objective of this study was to examine the associations between maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, being born during the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of maternal SARS-CoV-2 status, and neurodevelopment at age 6 months. In this study, birth during the pandemic, but not in utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, was associated with differences in neurodevelopment at age 6 months. These early findings support the need for long-term monitoring of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Depression in the Postpartum Year and Life Course Economic Trajectories

This study aims to assess the relationship between perinatal depression and long-term economic outcomes. Findings suggest that supporting perinatal mental health is crucial for strengthening the economic well-being of childbearing individuals and reducing the impact of maternal depression on intergenerational transmission of adversity.

Associations Between Maternal Depression, Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis

The objective of the study is to evaluate the associations of depressive symptoms and antidepressant use during pregnancy with the risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), and low Apgar scores. Findings suggest that the depressive symptoms or a clinical diagnosis of depression during pregnancy are associated with preterm birth and low Apgar scores, even without exposure to antidepressants. However, SSRIs may be independently associated with preterm birth and low Apgar scores.