UK Wedding News
20/08/2014
A new study has claimed that breastfeeding can significantly reduce the risk of post-natal depression.
However, the research, which involved nearly 14,000 new mothers, also found a large increase in the risk of depression in women to planned to breastfeed, but were then unable to do so.
The findings have been published in the journal Maternal and Child Health, and shows that mothers who planned to breastfeed and who went on to breastfeed their baby were around 50% less likely to suffer from depression, compared to mothers who had not planned to, or who did not, breastfeed.
A link between breastfeeding and depression was most pronounced when babies were eight weeks old, and less pronounced when babies were eight months or older, the researchers from the UK and Spain said.
Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Survey of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a study of 13,998 births in the Bristol area in the early 1990s, maternal depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Information was gathered when babies were eight weeks old, as well as eight months, 21 months and 33 months old. Depression was also assessed at two points during the woman's pregnancy, to allow the researchers to take into account mothers' pre-existing mental health conditions. The study also looked at socio-economic factors such as income and relationship status, plus how a baby was delivered and if it was premature.
Around one in 12 women in the sample were said to have experienced depressive symptoms during pregnancy, while one in eight experienced depression at one – or more – of the four measurement points after giving birth.
Discussing the findings, Dr Maria Iacovou, from the University of Cambridge's Department of Sociology, said: "Breastfeeding has well-established benefits to babies, in terms of their physical health and cognitive development; our study shows that it also benefits the mental health of mothers.
"In fact, the effects on mothers' mental health that we report in this study are also likely to have an impact on babies, since maternal depression has previously been shown to have negative effects on many aspects of children's development."
She added that additional support should be made available for those women unable to breastfeed.
"Lots of mothers and babies take to breastfeeding pretty easily. But for many others, it doesn't come naturally at all," she said. "For these mothers, having someone with the training, the skills, and perhaps most importantly the time to help them get it right, can make all the difference. However good the level of support that's provided, there will be some mothers who wanted to breastfeed and who don't manage to.
"It's clear that these mothers need a great deal of understanding and support; there is currently hardly any skilled specialist help for these mothers, and this is something else that health providers should be thinking about."
Rosemary Dodds, Senior Policy Adviser at NCT, welcomed the research, saying: "Mothers often experience pressures after the birth such as pain, shortage of sleep and anxiety. Breastfeeding can help to relax mothers and reduce stress, so it might play a part in preventing mental health issues developing.
"We welcome further research into this subject as perinatal mental health is a huge issue for many mothers. At least one in ten suffer with postnatal depression."
More details regarding the study can be found here.
(JP/CD)
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Breastfeeding 'Reduces Risk Of Depression'
A new study has claimed that breastfeeding can significantly reduce the risk of post-natal depression.
However, the research, which involved nearly 14,000 new mothers, also found a large increase in the risk of depression in women to planned to breastfeed, but were then unable to do so.
The findings have been published in the journal Maternal and Child Health, and shows that mothers who planned to breastfeed and who went on to breastfeed their baby were around 50% less likely to suffer from depression, compared to mothers who had not planned to, or who did not, breastfeed.
A link between breastfeeding and depression was most pronounced when babies were eight weeks old, and less pronounced when babies were eight months or older, the researchers from the UK and Spain said.
Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Survey of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a study of 13,998 births in the Bristol area in the early 1990s, maternal depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Information was gathered when babies were eight weeks old, as well as eight months, 21 months and 33 months old. Depression was also assessed at two points during the woman's pregnancy, to allow the researchers to take into account mothers' pre-existing mental health conditions. The study also looked at socio-economic factors such as income and relationship status, plus how a baby was delivered and if it was premature.
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Around one in 12 women in the sample were said to have experienced depressive symptoms during pregnancy, while one in eight experienced depression at one – or more – of the four measurement points after giving birth.
Discussing the findings, Dr Maria Iacovou, from the University of Cambridge's Department of Sociology, said: "Breastfeeding has well-established benefits to babies, in terms of their physical health and cognitive development; our study shows that it also benefits the mental health of mothers.
"In fact, the effects on mothers' mental health that we report in this study are also likely to have an impact on babies, since maternal depression has previously been shown to have negative effects on many aspects of children's development."
She added that additional support should be made available for those women unable to breastfeed.
"Lots of mothers and babies take to breastfeeding pretty easily. But for many others, it doesn't come naturally at all," she said. "For these mothers, having someone with the training, the skills, and perhaps most importantly the time to help them get it right, can make all the difference. However good the level of support that's provided, there will be some mothers who wanted to breastfeed and who don't manage to.
"It's clear that these mothers need a great deal of understanding and support; there is currently hardly any skilled specialist help for these mothers, and this is something else that health providers should be thinking about."
Rosemary Dodds, Senior Policy Adviser at NCT, welcomed the research, saying: "Mothers often experience pressures after the birth such as pain, shortage of sleep and anxiety. Breastfeeding can help to relax mothers and reduce stress, so it might play a part in preventing mental health issues developing.
"We welcome further research into this subject as perinatal mental health is a huge issue for many mothers. At least one in ten suffer with postnatal depression."
More details regarding the study can be found here.
(JP/CD)
Top stories
20/03/2020
LeToya Luckett-Walker Is Pregnant
Charlotte Crosby Finds New Romance
Lydia Bright Gets Candid About Giving Birth
Lana Del Ray Splits From Boyfriend
Angelica Ross Learns Of Boyfriend's Secret Life
Ashley Graham's Breastfeeding Struggle
Susanna Reid's Mother's Day Plans
Lin-Manuel Miranda Homeschooling Kids
Kristen Bell Speaks Of Pride For Daughters
Prince George & Princess Charlotte Now Homeschooled
