title: Early breastfeeding experiences and postpartum depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The first weeks after childbirth are a critical period for mother and newborn. Women may present with lactation failure and postpartum depression. It is unclear how a woman's early breastfeeding experiences relate to postpartum depression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We estimated the association between early breastfeeding experiences and postpartum depression at 2 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  We modeled this association with logistic regression in a secondary analysis of data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. We assessed postpartum depression status with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the neonatal period, 2,586 women reported ever breastfeeding, among whom 223 (8.6%) met criteria for major depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale 13 or greater) at 2 months postpartum. Women who disliked breastfeeding in the first week were more likely to experience postpartum depression at 2 months (odds ratio [OR] 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.93) adjusting for maternal age, parity, education, ethnicity, and postnatal WIC participation. Women with severe breastfeeding pain in the first day (adjusted OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.17-3.29), the first week (adjusted OR 2.13, 95% CI 0.74-6.15 compared with no pain), and the second week (adjusted OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.18-4.26 compared with no pain) were more likely to be depressed. Breastfeeding help appeared protective among women with moderate (adjusted OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.05-0.94) or severe (adjusted OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.04-0.75) pain with nursing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with negative early breastfeeding experiences were more likely to have depressive symptoms at 2 months postpartum. Women with breastfeeding difficulties should be screened for depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors: From Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Watkins
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Meltzer-Brody
authors: Denniz
authors: D
authors: Zolnoun
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Stuebe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires