title: Postpartum depression, infant feeding practices, and infant weight gain at six months of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined postpartum depression (PPD) as a potential risk factor for non-adherence to infant feeding guidelines and subsequent infant weight gain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were mother-infant dyads from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (N = 1447). Main study variables were PPD, breastfeeding intensity, addition of cereal to infant formula, and age of introduction to solid foods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In logistic models adjusted for sociodemographic factors, mothers with PPD were 1.57 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16, 2.13) more likely to breastfeed at low intensity and 1.77 times (95% CI: 1.16, 2.68) more likely to add cereal to infant formula. Although PPD was associated with the early introduction to solid foods (odds ratio: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.89), this relationship was not significant after adjusting for potential confounders. A small but significantly greater average weight gain at 6 months was observed among infants of mothers with PPD (10.15 lb, SD = 2.32 vs. 9.85 lb, SD = 2.32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening for PPD at well-child visits may lead to improved maternal health outcomes and the prevention of early life risk factors for childhood obesity.
authors.forename: Kathleen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Gaffney
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kitsantas
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Carol S S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Swamidoss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult