Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Bidirectional; Breastfeeding; Canadian Maternity Experience Survey; Depression; Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; Infant Feeding; Intervention; Postpartum; Risk; Women

Introduction: Breastfeeding has gained a notable amount of international attention due to the increasing evidence that it is related to numerous maternal and infant health benefits. Particular attention is currently focused on the relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum depression, as postpartum depression is associated with numerous consequences including thoughts of self-harm and suicidial ideation.[1,2] Originally it was thought that postpartum depression was responsible for lower rates of breastfeeding.[3] More recently however, reports suggest that not engaging in breastfeeding may increase the risk of postpartum depression and that breastfeeding may actually offer protection against postpartum depression.[4] Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to better understand the relationship of breastfeeding and postpartum depression. In particular this study will compare women who did breastfeed to women who did not breastfeed to determine if these groups differ in their rates of postpartum depression. Method: Data will be extracted from the Canadian Maternity Experience Survey,[5] which was developed and implemented by the Public Health Agency of Canada in collaboration with Statistics Canada. Birth mothers who were 15 years of age and older, who had a singleton live birth in Canada, and who lived with their infant at the time of the interview, were eligible to complete the survey. In total the data from 6421 birth mothers is available for analysis. Demographics characteristics, intention to breastfeed, initiation of breastfeeding, and postpartum depression scores, will be obtained from the survey data. Implications: A better understanding of the relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum depression can influence the treatment of postpartum depression. Currently, some women may be advised to reduce or stop breastfeeding to resolve the symptoms of postpartum depression, such as disturbed sleep or stress. If it is found that breastfeeding may protect against postpartum depression, it will suggest that it may be more advantageous to encourage women to continue breastfeeding when they are experiencing postpartum depression. References: 1. Pope CJ, Sharma V, Mazmanian D. Recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of postpartum bipolar depression. Expert Rev. Neurother. In press. 2. Pope CJ, Xie B, Sharma V, & Campbell MK. A prospective study of thoughts of self-harm and suicidal ideation during the postpartum period in women with mood disorders. Arch. Womens Ment. Health. 2013: 16(6):483-488. 3. Seimyr L, Edhborg M, Lundh W, Sjögren BJ. In the shadow of maternal depressed mood: experiences of parenthood during the first year after childbirth. Psychosom. Obstet. Gynaecol. 2004;25(1):23-34. 4. Figueiredo B, Canário C, Field T. Breastfeeding is negatively affected by prenatal depression and reduces postpartum depression. Psychol. Med. 2013;3:1-10. 5. Public Health Agency of Canada. What Mother’s Say: The Canadian Maternity Experience Survey. Ottawa, 2009.