Postnatal Exercise and Its Role in Managing Maternal Depression and Anxiety
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/3mm0tv05Keywords:
Postnatal Exercise, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, Maternal Health, Mental Health.Abstract
Background: Two of the most common mental health conditions in the postpartum phase are postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, which frequently impact domestic life, infant attachment, and maternal well-being. According to recent research, non-pharmacologic interventions specifically, structured exercise—are crucial for maintaining maternal mental health.
Objective: the main goal of this review is to evaluate how structured postpartum exercise regimens affect women's postpartum anxiety and depression symptoms.
Methods: Postnatal exercise, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and maternal mental health were searched in literature using Pub Med, Scopus, and Google Scholar exhaustively. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials of studies from 2015 to 2025 were included.
Discussion: Walking, yoga, stretching, and aerobic training are examples of gentle to moderate physical exercise, which are linked with improvement in mood regulation, balance of cortisol and serotonin levels, self-esteem, and social support. Exercise improves the physical and mental recovery of postpartum women when added to routine care.
Conclusions: Exercise after childbirth is an innocuous, valuable, and efficient adjunct therapy for decreasing depression and anxiety among mothers. Systematic exercise is able to improve mother screening outcomes, increase the health of families, and provide long-term recuperation when incorporated into daily postpartum care.
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