Journal
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
Volume 44, Issue 5, Pages 927-936Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291713001530
Keywords
Breastfeeding; postpartum depression; pregnancy; prenatal depression
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Funding
- FEDER Funds through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE
- National Funds through FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [PTDC/SAU/SAP/116738/2010]
- FCT [BSAB/1300656063]
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [PTDC/SAU-SAP/116738/2010] Funding Source: FCT
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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 (=-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 (F-1,F-65=3.73, p<0.10, (p) (2)=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.
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