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Cited by 239Breastfeeding Practices and InfluencesMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumMaternal and Perinatal Health Interventions

Understanding the relationship between breastfeeding and postnatal depression: the role of pain and physical difficulties

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Brown, Amy, Rance, Jaynie, Bennett, Paul·2016·Journal of Advanced Nursing
DOI 10.1111/jan.12832PMC PMC4738467
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Abstract

Aims: To examine the relationship between specific reasons for stopping breastfeeding and depressive symptoms in the postnatal period. Background: Difficulty breastfeeding has been connected to postnatal depression although it is unclear whether difficulty breastfeeding precedes or succeeds a diagnosis. However, the concept of ‘breastfeeding difficulty’ is wide and includes biological, psychological and social factors. Design: A cross‐sectional self‐report survey. Methods: Data were collected between December 2012 and February 2013. 217 women with an infant aged 0‐6 months who had started breastfeeding at birth but had stopped before 6 months old completed a questionnaire examining breastfeeding duration and reasons for stopping breastfeeding. They further completed a copy of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Results: A short breastfeeding duration and multiple reasons for stopping breastfeeding were associated with higher depression score. However, in a regression analysis only the specific reasons of stopping breastfeeding for physical difficulty and pain remained predictive of depression score. Conclusions: Understanding women's specific reasons for stopping breastfeeding rather than breastfeeding duration is critical in understanding women's breastfeeding experience and providing women with emotional support. Issues with pain and physical breastfeeding were most indicative of postnatal depression in comparison to psychosocial reasons highlighting the importance of spending time with new mothers to help them with issues such as latch.

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Authors
Brown, A., Rance, J., & Bennett, P.
Affiliations
Swansea University (GB)
Corresponding author
Brown, Amy
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2015-10-23
Volume
72
Issue
2
Pages
273-282
ISSN
  • 0309-2402 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2648
DOI
10.1111/jan.12832
PMC
PMC4738467
OpenAlex
W2168493303
Cited by
239
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 1
FWCI
6.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Advanced Nursing (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Journal of Advanced Nursing
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
Keywords
breastfeeding, postpartum depression, breastfeeding difficulties, reasons for stopping breastfeeding, breastfeeding pain, breastfeeding duration, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, infant latching, maternal emotional support
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Breast Feeding, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Pain, Postnatal Care, Pregnancy, Surveys and Questionnaires, Socioeconomic Factors, Depression, Postpartum, Young Adult, Self Report

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