Antepartum and postpartum depression and infant feeding pattern: a prospective study

Mother's depression during pregnancy and postpartum is a risk factor that can adversely affect mother's relationship with her infant. As breast feeding is an important situation for early mother-child interaction the effect of mother's depression on her breast feeding attitude and practice was decided to be studied prospectively. In this study, 158 primigravidae attending antenatal clinics in two MCH centres were interviewed at third trimester. The interview data covered social background, attitudes to breast feeding as well as self rating of depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). At postnatal interview 72 mother-infant pairs could be reached between 6-16 weeks after birth. They were subjected again to EPDS along with inquiry about type of infant feeding and breast feeding practices. Findings revealed that the prevalence of antepartum depression was 25.32%. Antepartum depression was significantly linked to postpartum depression and negative attitudes to breast feeding. Persistent maternal depression (ante- and postpartum) was a risk factor for early resorting to mixed infant feeding, retarded infant growth as well as some adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Logistic analysis indicated that negative mothers' attitudes to breast feeding and postpartum depressive scores taken together predicted mixed infant feeding. Hence, preventive programs should be directed specifically towards modifying the mother's psychological status and her attitude on behalf of her infant.