Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

How does postpartum depression affect breastfeeding?

Deborah McCarter-Spaulding1, June Andrews Horowitz

  • 1William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, USA. mccarter@spaulding.cc

MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|February 20, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The Ongoing Imperative to Recognize and Support Maternal-Infant Interaction.

Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN·2025
Same author

Applying the PRECEDE-PROCEED model to develop MommaConnect: a digital healthcare platform for addressing postpartum depression and improving infant well-being.

Exploration of neuroscience·2024
Same author

The mental and behavioral health crisis in youth: Strategic solutions post COVID-19 pandemic: An American Academy of Nursing consensus paper.

Nursing outlook·2024
Same author

Report of the 16th International Family Nursing Conference (in Hybrid Format): <i>Global Innovations in Family Nursing: Advancing Family Health</i>.

Journal of family nursing·2024
Same author

Perceived Stressors and Support in Family Caregivers of Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder.

Journal of addictions nursing·2023
Same author

Nutrition-Related Experiences of Women With Perinatal Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

Journal of patient experience·2023
Same journal

Breastfeeding When Mothers Return to Work from Home.

MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing·2026
Same journal

Perinatal Missed Nursing Care: An Integrative Review.

MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing·2026
Same journal

Risk Factors for Newborn Falls or Drops during the Birth Hospitalization: Analysis of 88 Reports.

MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing·2026
Same journal

Iron Deficiency in Pregnancy.

MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing·2026
Same journal

Breastfeeding Among US Indian-Origin Mothers.

MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing·2026
Same journal

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Metachromatic Leukodystrophy Added to the Newborn Screening Program.

MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing·2026
See all related articles

Maternal depression symptoms did not directly impact breastfeeding, but combination feeding was more common in mothers with postpartum depression (PPD) than exclusive breastfeeding. Early screening and integrated treatment are crucial.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Perinatal Mental Health
  • Infant Nutrition

Background:

  • Postpartum depression (PPD) affects maternal mental health and infant well-being.
  • Feeding patterns significantly influence infant health outcomes.
  • Understanding the interplay between PPD and infant feeding is critical for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate feeding patterns (exclusive breastfeeding, combination feeding, exclusive bottle-feeding) in mothers with postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms.
  • To identify factors associated with different feeding patterns in this population.
  • To compare feeding patterns in mothers with PPD to a general postpartum population.

Main Methods:

  • A sample of 122 women with positive PPD symptoms at 2-4 weeks postpartum was analyzed.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Data on feeding patterns and demographics were collected during three postpartum home visits.
  • Statistical analyses identified variables related to and predictors of feeding patterns.

    • Main Results:

    • Depression severity was not significantly associated with breastfeeding practices.
    • Older maternal age, cohabitation, and higher income correlated positively with breastfeeding.
    • Mothers with PPD exhibited significantly lower rates of exclusive breastfeeding compared to combination feeding, unlike the general population.

    Conclusions:

    • Nurses should screen for PPD symptoms in all pregnant and postpartum women, especially those with breastfeeding challenges.
    • PPD treatment plans for breastfeeding mothers must consider therapeutic options and the breastfeeding relationship.
    • The importance of breastfeeding should be integrated into PPD treatment considerations.