According to a recently conducted research that analyzed trends in over 14,000 new mothers, breastfeeding can reduce the tendency of developing postnatal depression by half. Similarly, there was a significant rise in the risk to develop depression in women who planned to breast-feed but were unable to do so, prompting researchers to call for increased support for women who are unable to breast-feed since mental health is a relevant issue for mothers.
The World Health Organization emphasizes that there are many health benefits that a mother can acquire from breast-feeding, and is recommending that infants be put on a strictly breast milk diet for the first six months of their lives.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge, however, said that the impact of breast-feeding on mothers has yet to be fully understood. According to statistics, 1 in every 10 women will most likely develop depression after giving birth. According to their research data, women who initially plan to breast-feed, and are able to follow through, showed a 50% reduction of developing postnatal depression. In contrast, this risk more than doubles for those women who want to breast-feed but are unable to do so.
Dr. Maria Iacovou, one of the authors of the research, said is that, "Breast-feeding does appear to have a protective effect, but there's the other side of the coin as well. Those who wanted to and didn't end up breast-feeding had the highest risk of all the groups." She said that, although the initial impact of breast-feeding on postnatal depression has been identified, any long-term effects could not be accurately determined and this is why Health professionals need to pay closer attention.
The beneficial effects of the breast-feeding may include the release of hormones that make the mother feel good when the milk is produced. Researchers added that, in mothers who are unable to do this, there are psychological and social factors that come into play, including feelings of "failing as a mother." They say that the act of breast-feeding can often help these mothers relax and reduce their levels of stress, thereby playing a significant part in the prevention of the development of mental health issues.
