The Role of Antenatal Physical Activity in Preventing Postpartum Depression

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a debilitating and potentially dangerous illness that women face. Though there are several methods of treatment of PPD, there are currently no clinical recommendations for preventative measures that can be taken. Physical activity has been shown to prevent depression, however there is a lack of consistent evidence regarding the efficacy of physical activity in preventing postpartum depression. Objectives: The goal of this literature review is to determine the effects of antenatal physical activity interventions in preventing postpartum depression. Methods: This integrative literature review will search for interventional studies in CINAHL, PubMed, PsychInfo, and ProQuest. Data will be analyzed and displayed used Garrard’s matrix method. Conclusion: Overall, due to the lack of research and inconsistency in existing literature, it is not possible to determine whether physical activity performed antenatally has any impact on the incidence of postpartum depression