In a study of MRI brain scans of women suffering from post partum depression, the researchers have found that their brains show reduced activity in the areas that control emotional responses. It also showed that these women are unable to process emotional cues in others. This research done by the doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center show that women suffering from postpartum depression may hav a tough time connecting with their newborns, and the mental and emotional development of children of such women can get impaired.

Postpartum depression which is a common disorder is different from what is called baby blues when a woman may be in an excited or anxious emotional state. Baby blues generally go away after two weeks of childbirth, but it can become a postpartum depression if the woman turns moody, sad, anxious and remains so months after the birth. The scans showed that neural connection in the brains of women suffering from postpartum depression either did not happen or happened slowly changing their response to outside stimulus.

Medicine Depression