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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 927-936 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Psychological Medicine |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
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Keywords
- Breastfeeding
- postpartum depression
- pregnancy
- prenatal depression
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Applied Psychology
Cite this
Breastfeeding is negatively affected by prenatal depression and reduces postpartum depression. / Figueiredo, B.; Canário, C.; Field, Tiffany M.
In: Psychological Medicine, Vol. 44, No. 5, 01.01.2014, p. 927-936.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Breastfeeding is negatively affected by prenatal depression and reduces postpartum depression
AU - Figueiredo, B.
AU - Canário, C.
AU - Field, Tiffany M
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Breastfeeding
KW - postpartum depression
KW - pregnancy
KW - prenatal depression
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U2 - 10.1017/S0033291713001530
DO - 10.1017/S0033291713001530
M3 - Article
VL - 44
SP - 927
EP - 936
JO - Psychological Medicine
JF - Psychological Medicine
SN - 0033-2917
IS - 5
ER -