Maternal Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Infant Feeding Practices

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Postpartum obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms can impact maternal mental health and infant care.
• Understanding the relationship between OC symptoms and breastfeeding is crucial for maternal and infant well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between postpartum obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, infant care and feeding worries, and breastfeeding experiences in postpartum women.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 232 postpartum women aged 18-47 years with infants aged 2-6 months who had attempted breastfeeding.
• Data collected included breastfeeding experiences, OC symptoms, and other mental health conditions.
• Modified Poisson and linear regression analyses were used to examine associations, controlling for depressive symptoms.

Main Results:

• 14% of participants had clinically elevated OC symptoms.
• Women with elevated OC symptoms reported more perinatal OC symptoms and specific infant care/feeding-related OC symptoms (e.g., repeated washing of feeding items).
• Elevated OC symptoms were associated with more breastfeeding problems but not an overall worse breastfeeding experience.

Conclusions:

• Obsessive thoughts and compulsions related to infant feeding are prevalent and associated with increased breastfeeding difficulties.
• Interventions targeting OC symptoms may be beneficial for improving mother-infant dyadic interactions and supporting child development.
• Addressing OC symptoms can foster healthier parent-child relationships.