Breastfeeding May Protect Maternal Mental Health
- breastfeeding appears to protect women's mental health for years after childbirth, according to a small observational study conducted by Irish researchers.
- Researchers from three Dublin institutions studied 168 mothers experiencing their second pregnancy.
- Huppé continued, significant inflammation can increase the risk of depression.
Breastfeeding Linked to Long-Term Mental Health Benefits for Mothers
breastfeeding appears to protect women’s mental health for years after childbirth, according to a small observational study conducted by Irish researchers.
Researchers from three Dublin institutions studied 168 mothers experiencing their second pregnancy. They found that each week of exclusive breastfeeding reduced the risk of depression or anxiety by 2%, even when accounting for factors like alcohol consumption. “There are hormones released during breastfeeding, primarily oxytocin and prolactin,” explained Karine Huppé, a clinical nurse and lactation consultant at the Montreal children’s Hospital. “Oxytocin is also called the ‘love hormone.’ It promotes sleep in mothers, reduces stress, and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory… and we understand that inflammation is an significant issue in mental health.”
Huppé continued, significant inflammation can increase the risk of depression. “So,breastfeeding can modulate that inflammatory response to protect the mother not only from short-term postpartum depression,but also for longer.”
These benefits add to the protection breastfeeding seems to offer against conditions like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, and also the numerous health benefits for the baby.