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Updated: May 11, 2026
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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Inconsolable infant crying and maternal postpartum depressive symptoms
Jenny S Radesky1, Barry Zuckerman, Michael Silverstein
1Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA. jenny.radesky@bmc.org
Pediatrics
|May 8, 2013
Summary
Maternal reports of inconsolable infant crying are more strongly linked to postpartum depression than infant colic. Focusing on a mother's ability to soothe her baby may aid in interventions.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health
- Infant behavior
- Maternal-infant interaction
Background:
- Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant concern affecting maternal well-being.
- Infant crying is a common stressor for new mothers.
- Differentiating types of infant crying may be crucial for understanding PPD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal-reported inconsolable infant crying and postpartum depressive symptoms.
- To compare this association with the link between infant colic and maternal depression.
- To explore the relevance of soothing ability in predicting maternal depression.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 587 mothers from pre-delivery to 8 weeks postpartum.
- Infant distress (fussing, crying, inconsolable crying) recorded using the Baby's Day Diary.
- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) administered at enrollment and 8 weeks postpartum; regression models used.
Main Results:
- 10% of mothers reported possible depression (EPDS score ≥9) at 8 weeks postpartum.
- Mothers reporting >20 minutes of inconsolable crying daily had 4x increased odds of PPD.
- Infant colic was associated with 2x increased odds of PPD, persisting after adjustments.
Conclusions:
- Maternal perception of inconsolable infant crying shows a stronger association with PPD than colic diagnosis.
- Assessing a mother's ability to soothe her infant may be more clinically relevant for interventions than duration of crying alone.
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