Women who stop breast feeding because it hurts MORE likely to get postnatal depression

This study was carried out by surveying 505 mothers

WOMEN who stop breast feeding because it hurts are more likely to develop postnatal depression, according to new research.

 

The study highlights the importance of supporting women who have difficulties during breastfeeding.

Researchers found that of the 505 women they surveyed, those who gave up breast feeding the soonest were most likely to suffer from postnatal depression.

Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), they found that the longer a mother breastfed, the lower they scored on the scale.

 

Those who stop breast feeding because of pain are much more likely to suffer depression than others

Women who said they gave up breastfeeding because of pain and discomfort were found rank far higher on the EPDS scale than mothers who stopped because of pressure from others. Mothers who stopped breastfeeding because they were embarrassed ranked the least likely to suffer from postnatal depression.

If we want more women to breastfeed, we really need to invest in the support systems to enable them to do so

Dr Amy Brown, of Swansea University 

Those concerned on the effect breast feeding was having on how their body looked were second least likely to have postnatal depression.

Women who said they gave up because they were lacking the support system to help teach them how to succeed at breast feeding were also susceptible to depression, but not to the same extent as mothers in pain.

 

Mother breastfeeds her child by the waves

 

Women who breast feed for a shorter time are more at risk of post natal depression

This is combined with a feeling of guilt, as many mothers told researchers that "they believed that breastfeeding would be straightforward and then when they encountered difficulties they felt guilty, let down and upset by the experience, feeling they have failed".

The importance of teaching mothers how to help a baby latch on correctly and educating new parents on normal feeding patterns were, the study said, vital in helping avoid postnatal depression. Study lead author Dr Amy Brown, of Swansea University, 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."