Satisfaction with Breastfeeding and Not Frequency of Feeding is Associated with a Reduction of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

Purpose:

Postpartum depression (PPD) resembles a major depression in the postpartum period and affects 10–15% of all women after giving birth. Several studies suggest an association between a lower risk of PPD and breastfeeding. The highly stressful period of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the incidence of mental illness in general and PPD in particular. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding behavior and PPD in more detail.

Methods:

In this context, 291 women who gave birth between April 2020 and September 2021 were surveyed up to 6 months postpartum on depressive symptoms, breastfeeding behavior, and anxieties.

Results:

In particular, the fact that the women stated after 6 months that their expectations of breastfeeding had been met appeared to lead to a significantly lower risk of PPD. Therefore, not breastfeeding frequency but satisfaction with breastfeeding behavior was decisive for the risk of PPD development. Significant correlations were found between different anxieties and breastfeeding behavior. Higher anxieties led to a shorter desired time of breastfeeding in months, less frequent breastfeeding per day, and less satisfaction with breastfeeding behavior.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that improving the breastfeeding experience as well as reducing prepartum anxieties or treating postpartum anxieties could be a primary prevention for PPD.