Prevention of Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Depression (also called PPD) is a form of severe depression and mood disorder that occurs after giving birth. It may occur primarily in first-time moms within the first year of the postnatal stage. Some women who experience postpartum depression may experience physical, emotional, and behavioral changes unusual to their typical behavior during the prenatal phase.
Studies found that women who breastfed after giving birth were less likely to be diagnosed with postpartum depression, which suggests that the relationship between a mother’s mental health and the infant’s breastfeeding goes both ways. It is because the affectionate bonding between mother and infant during the first year of breastfeeding not only helps reduce social and behavioral problems the baby may develop while growing up but will also prevent the same problems in the mother after giving birth.
In addition, breastfeeding mothers have self-reported cutbacks of anxiety, stress, crying spells, and mood swings while displaying more stable sleep patterns. The “love” hormone (medically known as Oxytocin) that is released when breastfeeding may also be a contributing factor to the special bond of the mother and the baby.
