TDNet Discover

Background: Postpartum depression is a prevalent disease that affects many women. Research is lacking on whether physical activity during pregnancy can help prevent postpartum depression (PPD). There are currently no guidelines for the prevention of PPD in women who have no history of psychiatric illness. An evidence-based clinical review was conducted to determine if physical activity during pregnancy can help prevent PPD. Purpose: This research sought to discover if physical activity is a viable option to help prevent PPD. Physical activity includes activities such as aerobic exercise, strength training, yoga, homebased programs, aquatics, and resistance training. Methods: An evidence-based clinical review of English articles was conducted via PubMed, CINAHL Complete, and Medline Complete. Any studies that researched or tested the effects of starting physical activity before 26 weeks of pregnancy and postpartum depression, and of “good” quality were included. All articles that met the criteria were then reviewed by all 3 authors using quality assessments and analyzed using a data extraction tool. Results: Three studies met all criteria set forth by the researchers which collectively included 102,856 women. The studies measured levels of PPD at 1 or more intervals ranging from 1 week to 52 weeks postpartum. The majority of the included studies showed statistical significance that exercise during pregnancy reduced the incidence of postpartum depression. Conclusion: Physical activity during pregnancy before 26 weeks has been shown to reduce PPD in women without a history of mental illness. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and incorporate them into guidelines for providers.