Association between Maternal Postpartum Depression, Stress, Optimism, and Breastfeeding Pattern in the First Six Months

Abstract

Early breastfeeding cessation is a major public health problem. Several factors can affect breastfeeding pattern, and psychological aspects have been poorly explored. We hypothesize that psychological factors and breastfeeding pattern have a relationship. We have assessed in mothers during the first six months of lactation if breastfeeding pattern is associated with maternal stress, postpartum depression, and dispositional optimism, and if these psychological factors play a role on breastfeeding adherence. In total, 711 women participated, answering online the following questionnaires: sociodemographic, perceived stress scale, Edinburgh postpartum depression scale, life orientation test, and breastfeeding adherence score. Women were categorized according to infant feeding practices as exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) or mixed breastfeeding (MBF). The EBF group had a lower score of perceived stress compared to those giving MBF (first month: EBF = 1.5 [1.1; 1.9], MBF = 1.8 [1.5; 2.0]; p-Value = 0.030; third month: EBF = 1.6 [1.2; 2.0], MBF = 1.8 [1.5; 2.4]; p-Value = 0.038) and also had a lower score of postpartum depression (third month: EBF = 8.0 [6.0; 11.0], MBF = 11.0 [9.0; 15.0]; p-Value = 0.001). The breastfeeding adherence score showed a positive correlation with maternal perceived stress (first month: ρ = 0.27; p-Value = 0.018), and postpartum depression (third month: ρ = 0.30; p-Value < 0.001), and a negative correlation with maternal dispositional optimism (second month: ρ = −0.20; p-Value = 0.028). MBF was positively associated with breastfeeding adherence score (odd ratio (OR) = 1.4 [1.2–1.6]; p-Value < 0.001) and with postpartum depression (OR = 1.1 [1.0; 1.1]; p-Value = 0.020). In the third month of breastfeeding, women with MBF exhibited higher perceive stress and postpartum depression compared to those with EBF and no difference in dispositional optimism. The maternal psychological aspects are associated with breastfeeding pattern. Evaluation of maternal psychological concerns and providing support to lactating mothers may help improving breastfeeding adherence.

Breastfeeding Practices among Adolescent Mothers and Associated Factors in Bangladesh (2004–2014)

“…The finding that adolescent mothers who had older infants reported lower odds of EBF could be attributed to the duration of maternity leave because infant adolescent mothers may be forced to return to full-time work with a shorter breastfeeding span given Bangladesh’s recent impressive economic growth and changes in work practices, such as part-time work which has been reported to increase breastfeeding span [ 52 ]. These findings may be related to inexperience regarding breastfeeding among first time adolescent mothers including inadequate use of maternal health services and a lack of effective breastfeeding intervention programs among adolescent mothers who worked at a factory, with previous research finding an association between a mother’s age and inadequate use of maternal health services [ 53 ].…”

Factors Associated with the Abandonment of Exclusive Breastfeeding before Three Months

“…Possibly, skills and tools that these professionals can bring to the mother are aimed at solving doubts, anticipating problems and providing the security that the mother needs. In addition, this targeted support could also help to control psychological and mood states that are detrimental to the maintenance of EB [ 16 ].…”

“…The model helps to distinguish all the variables that can potentially influence a woman’s decision to abandon maternal breastfeeding prematurely, and it helps to understand how those levels interact among themselves. There is no doubt that the factors that can interfere with the practice of breastfeeding are many and complex and include clinical factors such as psychological factors, state of mind, false beliefs (such as the feeling of hypogalactia), variables in the social environment and other factors related to the mother’s immediate surroundings, as well as cultural factors [ 14 , 16 , 17 ].…”

The Effect of Psychological Factors on the Quality of Life in Iranian Lactating Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Path Analysis

“…The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) evaluate four dimensions of physical symptoms (1-7), anxiety and insomnia (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14), social function (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), and depression (12). Higher scores represent worse general health.…”

“…There are researches showing a negative association between experience of breastfeeding and parent-reported antisocial and aggressive behavior in offspring in middle childhood (10). Numerous factors such as physiological and psychological factors are involved in the beginning and continuation of breastfeeding (11). Because of the importance of breastfeeding and considering the high prevalence of the COVID-19 disease and its different psychological impacts on human lives and the existence of limited studies on the psychological health of breastfeeding women during the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to assess variations in the psychosocial functioning associated with COVID-19 and determine its in uence on QoL in breastfeeding women in Iran using path analysis.…”