Secondary analysis of a randomized trial reveals the link between maternal anemia and depressive symptoms after vaginal delivery, highlighting the mental health impact of low hemoglobin.
( BJOG 2025; 132:1644–1654. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.18289) This study investigated whether hemoglobin levels immediately after childbirth are linked to symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) 2 months after vaginal delivery. Using data from a large multicenter randomized controlled trial conducted in France, researchers examined women with a singleton pregnancy who delivered vaginally at or beyond 35 weeks’ gestation. Women with known psychiatric conditions or missing depression screening data were excluded. The primary exposure was hemoglobin concentration measured within the first few days after delivery, while the outcome was depressive symptoms assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with a score of 11 or higher indicating PPD symptoms.
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