Children born to mothers suffering from depression are likely to have delayed cognitive, emotional and social development.

According to a new American Academy of Pediatrics report published on the journal Pediatrics on Monday, developmental and social delays have been found in babies with depressed mothers. Hence it is important to routinely screen new mothers for depression.

The report also said that every year more than 400,000 babies are born to depressed mothers. Estimates say that between 5 percent and 25 percent of women develop postpartum depression.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists earlier this year recommended similar screening.

Maternal depression often associated with postpartum depression. Studies indicate that women who have suffered from postpartum depression have nearly 62 per cent chances of developing other forms of depression later in life.