Effect Of Breastfeeding on Depression Levels of Mothers, Weight and Height Measurements of Babies in The Postpartum First Two Months

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of depression in women increases with pregnancy and delivery. The prevalence of postpartum depression ranges between %12.5-25 and differs among communities. Postpartum depression may affect bonding and the mother’s
learning about baby care and parenting role. The aim of this study is to assess the permanence of breastfeeding at the first two month postpartum period in case given effective breastfeeding education and the impact of postpartum depression on the babies’ weights and heights.
METHODS: High risk patients for postpartum depression were identified in the newly delivered mothers with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression
Scale; patients also filled a questionnaire form of 43 questions in order to evaluate socio-demographical data. At the time the baby was born, breastfeeding education was given to all of the participants by the doctor and by the nurse. Weight and height of the babies were measured and recorded immediately postpartum, and at the visits of the first and the second month. Collected data were evaluated statistically.
RESULTS: In the present study it was shown that all of the mothers with or without postpartum depression continued breastfeeding at first two months postpartum period. No significant differences in evaluated parameters were found between the two
groups. This situation was considered to be due to several factors such as effective breastfeeding education and economical advantage encourages mothers to feed their babies only with breast milk, social pressure may compel mothers to breastfeed their
babies. It was supposed that mothers’ continuation to breastfeeding in the depressed patients may be because it has a curative effect on postpartum depression.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: