Pregnant women should avoid gadgets: Expert

BENGALURU: Expecting mothers should cut down on use of cell phones, laptops and other hi-tech gadgets for the sake of the health of their babies. “Excessive use of technology-related devices during pregnancy would harm the growth of foetus and will have an adverse effect on the health of infants,” said Dr Jane Fisher, Clinical Psychologist and President of Marce Society. Dr Fisher also said that there is an increase in evidence about the same lately. If the mother is busy with gadgets, then the baby becomes irritable, is likely to experience sleep problems and other major health concerns.

Dr Fisher is in the city to take part in the two-day International Marce Society for Perinatal Mental Health Conference. Experts, young professionals, clinical practitioners and other delegates from 31 countries will be participating in the event which will be held from September 26 to 28 at Nimhans. This public health initiative is aimed to improve understanding of and responses to mental health problems among women who are pregnant or have recently given birth, their partners, their infants and young children.

Dr Prabha Chandra, Head of psychiatry, NIMHANS, told Deccan Chronicle that the key thing of this conference would be to integrate mental health to the maternal health programme. “We are aiming to develop learning about different kinds of programmes and develop low-cost models on mental health.” According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), maternal depression is the most common serious health complication of maternity. About 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women, who have just given birth, experience a mental disorder.

In developing countries it is even higher with 16% during pregnancy and 20% after childbirth due to factors such as poverty, poor nutrition, undetected medical problems and partner’s violence. Dr Chandra also pointed out that poverty is the biggest risk factor for mental health.

“A mother’s mental health influences the growth of the baby, so taking care of pregnant women not just physically, but also psychologically, becomes important. Poor support to look after a baby and violence in the family are among the major risk factors for postpartum depression,” she said. As for mental health education, Dr Prabha also said that children should be taught how to cope with their emotions and manage it in a better way.