Consequences of non-intervention

One of the most serious consequences of not treating perinatal depression is the risk of suicide. Although suicidal ideation can occur in up to 1.4% of pregnant women, only one in five openly express it due to stigma and fear of being judged as “bad mothers” or even losing custody of their children. This invisibility of emotional suffering prevents access to timely treatment and increases the risk of fatal outcomes.

Impact on the mental and physical health of the infant

When perinatal depression is left untreated, the mother's emotional disturbances directly affect the infant. The inability to correctly interpret the baby's signals—for example, not understanding whether they are crying because they are hungry or uncomfortable—creates an insecure bond.

This leads to the baby becoming more irritable, tearful, and difficult to comfort, which reinforces maternal anxiety and frustration in a vicious cycle.

Physically, studies indicate that children of depressed mothers are more likely to be born with low birth weight, experience fetal growth retardation, and require admission to neonatal intensive care units. Maternal depression has also been linked to increased cortisol secretion in the baby, which can affect their immune and neurological systems.

In addition, breastfeeding, which should be a protective factor for both mother and child, is affected. Not being able to breastfeed, or doing so under conditions of anxiety, can not only interrupt this process, but also increase feelings of guilt and failure in the mother. Non-intervention exacerbates these effects.

Childhood developmental disorders and the risk of intergenerational transmission of mental illness

The consequences of untreated depression are not limited to the neonatal period. As children grow older, they may experience cognitive, emotional, and behavioral developmental disorders.

Studies such as ALSPAC (England) show that these children are more like