Problems breastfeeding increases risk of depression

A study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing has investigated the reasons women give up breastfeeding and their association with depression.  The researchers  from Swansea University surveyed 217 women with an infant between 0 and 6 months, who had started breastfeeding at birth but stopped before the 6-month stage.  The women were asked to complete a copy of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale as well as give their reasons for no longer breastfeeding.

Results indicated that with some reasons, such as embarrassment or social factors, there appeared to be no increased risk of depression.  However, when the women had stopped due to pain or physical difficulties, there was an increased risk of postnatal depression.

Dr Amy Brown, lead author of the study, said : “We know that many new mothers want to breastfeed but often that they experience difficulties in doing so…Although the majority of women should be able to breastfeed, issues such as complications during delivery, time-pressured health professionals, and a lack of experience of what breastfeeding is really like, can all make breastfeeding more difficult. If we want more women to breastfeed, we really need to invest in the support systems to enable them to do so”.

Read the study here

An RCM summary may be viewed here