We also found that the beneficial effects of breastfeeding
were strongest at 8 weeks after birth, and that the
association was weaker at 8 months and onwards. This
finding is in line with the findings of the only other longitudinal
research in this area [37] which significant effects
at 6 weeks but not at 12 weeks postpartum. Our results are
nevertheless important, because of the established relationship
between depression, even in the very early postpartum
period, and maternal-infant bonding [38].