title: Breastfeeding Support and Messaging: A Call to Integrate Public Health and Psychological Perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Appropriate attention to maternal mental health is missing in many public health breastfeeding promotion efforts. Although there are many benefits to breastfeeding for both mom and infant, the relationship between maternal mental health and breastfeeding is complex. Breastfeeding may not be the most effective or feasible option for all mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We highlight a key international breastfeeding promotion program and argue that consideration for maternal mental health could be further incorporated into the initiative. We provide examples of how this could be done and also state that further guidance on the best alternative feeding practices to ensure the healthy development of infants is needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an opportunity to enhance public health breastfeeding initiatives by integrating a perinatal mental health perspective into their guidelines and accompanying resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA. rachel.vanderkruik@colorado.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanderkruik
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA. elizabeth.lemon@colorado.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lemon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA. sona.dimidjian@colorado.edu.
authors.forename: Sona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimidjian
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Breastfeeding; Depression; Postpartum depression; Public health initiatives