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In Depression and New Mothers Kendall Tackett explains why breastfeeding protects babies from the harmful effects of maternal depression. Many medications for postnatal depression are compatible with breastfeeding: it should be possible to discuss a treatment plan with health professionals which is right for each individual circumstance.

This does not take into account the research demonstrating breastfeeding’s protective effect on maternal health. If a woman becomes depressed while breastfeeding some health care professionals consider breastfeeding a risk factor, and they might urge her to stop in order to recover. Breastfed babies have been shown to be more alert and responsive 4 and more reciprocity and affection has been observed in breastfeeding dyads 5, 6. She also notes that “breastfeeding is protective of maternal mental health because it reduces the stress response”.īreastfeeding has been demonstrated to enhance interactions between mothers and babies: mothers who breastfeed show increased physiological and social responsiveness to their babies 3. She reports that “rates of depression are lower in breastfeeding mothers than their non- breastfeeding counterparts” 2.

Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC and La Leche League Leader agrees in her book Depression and New Mothers. It also showed that breastfeeding benefits the mental health of mothers. The study showed that breastfeeding has well-established benefits to babies, in terms of their physical health and cognitive development. Breastfeeding can protect against Postnatal Depression Furthermore it shows that access to support may play a key role in helping to prevent postnatal depression.

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This study emphasises how crucial it is for mothers to know how to get support so they can continue breastfeeding for as long as they want to.

It found that mothers who planned to breastfeed and went on to do so were around 50% less likely to become depressed than mothers who had planned to, and did not, breastfeed 1. In 2014 the journal Maternal and Child Health published a study looking at breastfeeding and maternal depression.

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