Mothers who exclusively breastfeed in the first months after giving birth are less likely to experience postpartum depression (PPD), according to a study published in PLOS ONE by researchers in NYU GPH's Public Health Nutrition program.
Research shows that breastfeeding may lower the risk of PPD, in part by regulating the hormonal shifts that occur after birth. However, negative breastfeeding experiences may have the opposite effect. Mothers who encounter challenges such as pain, low milk supply, or difficulty meeting their breastfeeding goals may experience guilt, shame, or a sense of failure, and may feel depressed or anxious.
This study sought to better understand the relationship between breastfeeding status and PPD symptoms, and whether a woman’s intentions to exclusively breastfeed play a role in this relationship. The researchers analyzed data from 2,022 low-income mothers who were part of a longitudinal study of feeding practices and nutrition outcomes among those enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The study measured mothers’ intentions to exclusively breastfeed before birth; whether mothers fed their babies with breastmilk, formula, or a combination at one and three months after birth; and whether they experienced PPD symptoms three months after birth.
The researchers found that exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a lower likelihood of PPD; a mother’s intention to exclusively breastfeed did not change this relationship. At both one and three months after birth, mothers who fed their babies formula or a combination of breastmilk and formula were about twice as likely to report symptoms of PPD than those who exclusively breastfed.
Notably, a substantial proportion of mothers who intended to exclusively breastfeed did not meet their goals.
“Our findings highlight the need for enhanced breastfeeding support for mothers to promote both maternal mental health and infant nutrition,” said Dr. Rachel Ryan of GPH’s Public Health Nutrition program, who co-authored the study with Dr. Lauren Berube and Dr. Andrea Deierlein.