Although postpartum depression has been identified as a
risk factor for early breastfeeding cessation [56], early negative
breastfeeding experiences may be a risk factor for postpartum
depression [66]. Further, it has also been suggested
that breastfeeding may offer protective benefits against postpartumdepression
[28].One study to report on the protective
benefits of breastfeeding found that lower levels of depressive
symptoms in the prenatal but not postnatal period predicted
exclusive breastfeeding. Furthermore, breastfeeding duration
was associated with a significant decrease in depressive
symptom scores from childbirth to 3 months postpartum
for women who initiated breastfeeding. These investigators
also found that women who did not initiate breastfeeding
did not experience changes in depressive symptoms over the
first three postpartummonths. After considering the findings
collectively, the investigators postulated that breastfeeding
alleviates depressive symptomology over time [28].
Additionally, results from a study by Mezzacappa and
Katkin [67] lend further support to the premise that breastfeeding
offers ameliorating effects on postpartum depressive
mood symptoms. These investigators looked at the acute
effects of breastfeeding on maternal mood and found that
breastfeeding mothers experienced a decrease in negative
mood from prefeeding to postfeeding. Moreover, bottlefeeding
mothers experienced a decrease in positive mood
fromprefeeding to postfeeding.Thus, breastfeedingmay offer
both acute and long-termameliorating effects on postpartum
depression; however, further research is required to substantiate
these initial findings.