A new analysis of multiple studies suggests that children whose mothers were hospitalized for a mental health condition after giving birth may face higher odds of developmental delays and lower academic performance. The review, which combined data from several observational studies, compared children whose mothers had a postnatal mental health hospitalization with those whose mothers did not.
Researchers found that these children had about 50% higher odds of being developmentally vulnerable in at least one of five key areas: social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and communication skills. The strongest link was seen in cognitive development, though that result was less certain. The children also had higher odds of below-average academic performance in spelling and writing.
However, the study has important limitations. The results are based on associations, not proof that the mother's mental health hospitalization caused the child's difficulties. The studies included varied widely in their methods and populations, which weakens the reliability of the findings.
What this means for families: The findings support current recommendations that new mothers be screened and treated for mental health conditions. But they do not mean that every child in this situation will have problems. Early support for both mother and child may help.
