Benefits of Breastfeeding and how it Relates to Postpartum Depression

Part B - Breastfeeding has many benefits…

The medical community at large agrees that breastfeeding has many benefits for both infants and their mothers. Researchers have already concluded that nursing infants are at a decreased risk of developing common childhood illnesses (including middle ear infections, lower respiratory infections, allergies, asthma, and eczema) (Wong, 2002, p. 209). Also encouraging is that as research continues, scientists continue to identify additional benefits to breastfed newborns. Notably, nursing mothers also realize benefits from breastfeeding. These benefits include the prevention of type 2 diabetes, reduced duration of postpartum bleeding, increased postpartum weight loss, improved postmenopausal bone density, and reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer (Wong, 2002, p. 209; (Mawson & Xueyuan, 2013, p. 1130). However, as many nursing mothers may contend, one of the most significant benefits of breastfeeding is the reduction in postpartum depression in these mothers.

Part B - 2 (variable) – Postpartum depression…

Until recently, the physicians were somewhat misdirected in identifying the underlying factors that cause postpartum depression. Historical research was largely focused on psychosocial reasons for postpartum depression (Freeman, 2009, p. e35). Researchers identified risk factors such as a history of depression, age, history of tobacco use, and giving birth to smaller birth weight infants (often leading to other infant illnesses) as contributing to the likelihood that a new mother would suffer from postpartum depression (Mawson & Xueyuan, 2013, p. 1129). Other researchers suggested that hormonal imbalances -- such as irregularities in the hypothalamic-adrenal-pituitary axis -- in these women may be to blame for the disorder (Mawson & Xueyuan, 2013, p. 1129). Yet another study concluded that perinatal stress-induced systemic inflammation may be to blame for postpartum depression (Mawson & Xueyuan, 2013, p. 1129). However, arguably the most conclusive findings were identified as researchers looked to the biological causes for postpartum depression.

Although postpartum depression is a psychological disorder, the underlying cause may, in fact, be attributable to vitamin imbalances within a woman’s body. Mawson & Xueyuan (2013) have suggested that postpartum depression is a result of hypervitaminosis A due to a woman’s postpartum accumulation of toxic concentrations of retinoids in the brain, liver and breasts (p. 1130). Retinoids are “dietary-derived, fat-signaling molecules” which are essential for biological functions within the body, and retinoic acid is described as “the major active form of vitamin A” (Mawson & Xueyuan, 2013, p. 1130). However, as the researchers describe, unusually high concentrations of retinoids have long been linked to mental disturbances and related mood disorders, including incidences of depression (Mawson & Xueyuan, 2013, p. 1130). Postpartum women go through certain biological changes in order to prepare their body’s to nurse. One such change is that the postpartum body begins to accumulate vitamin A in the liver and breasts in order to produce the vitamin A-rich colostrum and breast milk for the baby (Mawson & Xeuyuan, 2013, p. 1130). The researchers noted that prolonged lactation reduces the concentrations of vitamin A in nursing mothers, as the vitamin is transferred from mother to infant during breastfeeding (Mawson & Xeuyuan, 2013, p. 1130-131). Absent this transfer, the researchers also concluded that the remaining levels of vitamin A in a postpartum mother would be sufficient to create vitamin A intoxication (Mawson & Xeuyuan, 2013, p. 1130-131). This intoxication would increase the likelihood of the mother suffering from postpartum depression, including such depression, in as little as three months of accumulation (Mawson & Xeuyuan, 2013, p. 1130-131). Scientists were, therefore, able to conclusively tie incidences of postpartum depression back to breastfeeding.

Part B - In-depth review of Literature…

Given the benefits realized by breastfed infants and nursing mothers, it is imperative that new mothers make the important choice to breastfeed their infants for the first six months of life. There are a number of factors that increase the likelihood that women will elect to nurse their babies, beginning with the level of information that a mother has acquired regarding the benefits of breastfeeding (Kornides & Kitsantas, 2013, p. 264). In fact, mothers described as having more knowledge regarding breastfeeding were found to be eleven percent more likely to breastfeed than those without the same information (Kornides & Kitsantas, 2013, p. 264). They are also more inclined to continue breastfeeding long after other mothers have elected to stop (Kornides & Kitsantas, 2013, p. 264). It is therefore important to educate all mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding.

Expectant and new mothers may acquire knowledge from many different sources. This information often comes delivered by way of family members, or through their medical health care providers (Kornides & Kitsantas, 2013, p. 265). Other new mothers research the benefits of breastfeeding on their own before making any decisions, looking to sources such as the internet, television, and newspapers for information (Kornides & Kitsantas, 2013, p. 266). Each of these has proven to be valuable repositories of information as well (Kornides & Kitsantas, 2013, p. 266). Regardless of how a new mother acquires the knowledge, it is important to educate women in the hopes of increasing the number of women that chose to breastfeed.

(Survey questions omitted for preview. Available via download)

References

Freeman, M. P. (2009). Postpartum depression treatment and breastfeeding. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 70(9), e35.

Kornides, M., & Kitsantas, P. (2013). Evaluation of breastfeeding promotion, support, and knowledge of benefits on breastfeeding outcomes. Journal of Child Health Care, 17(3), 264-273.

Mawson, A., & Xueyuan, X. (2013). Breastfeeding, retinoids, and postpartum depression: A new theory. Journal of Affective Disorders, 150(3), 1129-1135.

Wong, S.C. (2002). Physicians should be educated on the benefits of breastfeeding. American Family Physician, 66(2), 209-10.