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Mental health issues are very common during and after pregnancy, and studies from around the world indicate that 10-15% of all pregnant and postpartum women experience depression. Risk factors for developing depression include a history of depression, low levels of social support, and stressful life events. The symptoms are the same as for depression during other periods of life, but often include feelings of inadequacy regarding motherhood, along with associated feelings of shame or guilt. Obsessive thoughts directed toward the baby may also be part of the symptomatology. Such thoughts are typically experienced as frightening by the mother but, in the vast majority of cases, do not pose any risk to the child. Maternal depression can also affect a mother's ability to bond with her baby, and difficulties in forming an attachment can, in turn, increase and perpetuate depressive symptoms. In the long term, insecure attachment between mother and child can lead to behavioral problems in the child, such as aggression and avoidance, anxiety and depression in adolescence, negative effects on cognitive development, and trust issues in close relationships.
Baby swimming is a structured form of interaction that takes place in 34-degree Celsius water in a calm environment, aiming to teach the baby vital skills while stimulating social, intellectual, and motor development. At least one parent actively participates and is encouraged to perform various exercises. These activities strengthen the bond between the baby and the parent and contribute to making time in the water a safe and enjoyable experience. Previous studies have shown that baby swimming can improve attachment between parent and child.
In the present project, the aim is to investigate whether baby swimming can be used as an intervention for depressive symptoms in new mothers and whether this intervention can reduce depressive symptoms while also strengthening the bond between mother and child.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waiting list | Active Comparator | After completing the baseline questionnaire at T0, participants will be randomized into two groups: half will receive the intervention immediately (the treatment group), while the other half will receive it after seven months (the waitlist control group). |
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| Intervention | Active Comparator | Participants in the treatment group will be contacted by a researcher and invited to an introductory meeting at the swimming facility, where they will receive information about the baby swimming course from the instructor. The course will take place twice a week for five weeks, totaling 10 sessions of 30 minutes each. During the sessions, mothers will be encouraged to engage in physical contact, maintain eye contact, and respond to their baby's signals. The course will also include water safety exercises. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby swimming | Behavioral | Participants in the treatment group will be contacted by a researcher and invited to an introductory meeting at the swimming facility, where they will receive information about the baby swimming course from the instructor. The course will take place twice a week for five weeks, totaling 10 sessions of 30 minutes each. During the sessions, mothers will be encouraged to engage in physical contact, maintain eye contact, and respond to their baby's signals. The course will also include water safety exercises. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Depressive symptoms | Self-reported depressive symptoms measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale | Seven months follow up |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment | Measured by the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire | Seven months follow up |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Women who have
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alkistis Skalkidou, PhD, MD | Contact | +46 6110000 | alkistis.skalkidou@kbh.uu.se | |
| Sara Sylvén, PhD, MD | Contact | +46706110451 | sara.sylven@neuro.uu.se |
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uppsala University | Recruiting | Uppsala | Sweden |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D003863 | Depression |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D001526 | Behavioral Symptoms |
| D001519 | Behavior |
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The project is an interventional study in the form of an RCT with a waitlist control group and will be conducted at Uppsala University Hospital.
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