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Breastfeeding is negatively affected by prenatal depression and reduces postpartum depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2013

B. Figueiredo ,
C. Canário  and
T. Field
B. Figueiredo*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
C. Canário
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
T. Field
Affiliation:
University of Miami Medical School, Miami, FL, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: B. Figueiredo, Ph.D., School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal. (Email: bbfi@psi.uminho.pt)
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Abstract

Background

This prospective cohort study explored the effects of prenatal and postpartum depression on breastfeeding and the effect of breastfeeding on postpartum depression.

Method

The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered to 145 women at the first, second and third trimester, and at the neonatal period and 3 months postpartum. Self-report exclusive breastfeeding since birth was collected at birth and at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. Data analyses were performed using repeated-measures ANOVAs and logistic and multiple linear regressions.

Results

Depression scores at the third trimester, but not at 3 months postpartum, were the best predictors of exclusive breastfeeding duration (β = −0.30, t = −2.08, p < 0.05). A significant decrease in depression scores was seen from childbirth to 3 months postpartum in women who maintained exclusive breastfeeding for ⩾3 months (F1,65 = 3.73, p < 0.10, ηp2 = 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that screening for depression symptoms during pregnancy can help to identify women at risk for early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding, and that exclusive breastfeeding may help to reduce symptoms of depression from childbirth to 3 months postpartum.

Keywords

Breastfeedingpostpartum depressionpregnancyprenatal depression
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 44 , Issue 5 , April 2014 , pp. 927 - 936
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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