Breastfeeding and mental health is the relationship between postpartum breastfeeding and the mother's and child's mental health. Research indicates breastfeeding may have positive effects on the mother's and child's mental health, though there have been conflicting studies that question the correlation and causation of breastfeeding and maternal mental health. Possible benefits include improved mood and stress levels in the mother, lower risk of postpartum depression, enhanced social emotional development in the child, stronger mother-child bonding and more. Given the benefits of breastfeeding, the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission for Public Health (ECPH) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggest exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Despite these suggestions, estimates indicate 70% of mothers breastfeed their child after birth and 13.5% of infants in the United States are exclusively breastfed. Breastfeeding promotion and support for mothers who are experiencing difficulties or early cessation in breastfeeding is considered a health priority.
The exact nature of the relationship between breastfeeding and some aspects of mental health is still unclear to scientists. The causal links are uncertain due to the variability of how breastfeeding and its effects are measured across studies. There are complex interactions between numerous psychological, sociocultural and biochemical factors which are not yet fully understood.
Breastfeeding and mother's mental health
Benefits on mood and stress levels
Some studies indicate that breastfeeding positively influences the mother's mental and emotional wellbeing as it improves mood and stress levels, and it is referred to as a 'stress buffer' for mothers during the postpartum period. However, other studies indicate that the stress of breastfeeding may have a negative impact on maternal mental health, especially when presented in an all-or-none, "Breast is best" manner. The activity facilitates a calmer psychological state and decreases feelings of anxiousness, negative emotions and stress. This is reflected in their physiological response to breastfeeding, where the mother's cardiac vagal tone modulation enhances, and blood pressure and heart rate decreases. The stress-buffering effect of breastfeeding results from the hormones oxytocin and prolactin. Mothers who breastfeed experience enhanced sleep duration and quality, while instances of sleep disturbances are decreased. The activity positively influences how mothers respond to social situations, which facilitates improved relationships and interactions. Mothers who engage in breastfeeding respond less to negative facial expressions (e.g. anger) and increase their response to positive facial expressions (e.g. happiness). Breastfeeding also help mothers feel confident and empowered given the knowledge that breastfeeding is beneficial to their child.
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is a mental health condition that can start during a women's pregnancy or come after the birth of her child. Statistics report that roughly 13 to 19 percent of women are affected by it. New mothers feel many negative emotions from this, depressed, hopeless, and/or worthless. It is a difficult time for those who suffer from this condition. Postpartum depression could be short-lived but it can also last up to two years after the mother gives birth. Postpartum depression has the potential to bring on more mental conditions for new mothers such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or anxiety. It is important for mothers and their partners to be watchful of any signs of PPD and how it affects the mother and the baby.