Does breastfeeding really protect against Postpartum Depression?

Some women believe breastfeeding is protective against postpartum mood disorders while others may see breastfeeding as aggravating symptoms by contributing to sleep deprivation, anxiety, and feelings of failure and guilt when difficulties arise.

One particular study examining the hormonal changes in the postpartum woman by examining several different studies concludes that postpartum mood disorders are the result of a hormonal of biochemical changes within the postpartum period.

The primary hormones involved with breastfeeding are oxytocin and prolactin. Oxytocin is secreted by the pituitary gland to help with labor and the ejection of milk. It is also known as the "cuddle" hormone. Prolactin, which actually builds up during pregnancy, is the hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and helps the mammary glands grow and stimulates milk production after birth.

The study, Hormonal Changes in the Postpartum Woman and Implications for Postpartum Depression, states that oxytocin has not been assessed for it's relationship with postpartum depression. The important thing to note here is that oxytocin has been observed to increase maternal bonding in animalistic studies. That's not to say that women who choose to formula feed will not bond with their infants but women who breastfeed have a hormonal advantage thanks to oxytocin. By the way, it's oxytocin that is responsible for that wonderful sleepy "I just breastfed my baby" daze nursing mothers experience.

Prolactin on the other hand will drop off to normal pre-pregnancy levels at just three weeks postpartum in women who are not breastfeeding. In women who are breastfeeding it does eventually return to the pre-pregnancy level but takes longer as a result of the continued presence of oxytocin and milk production. In my opinion, this may explain why some women experience late onset postpartum depression as they wean their infants.

Now that we have waded through the hormonal issues associated with breastfeeding, let's get to the physical issues.

When you breastfeed, there is a lot of skin to skin contact. This has been proven to increase maternal bonding, increase the production of both oxytocin and prolactin which in turn can help mom feel relaxed and comfortable. With all of this happiness going on at a hormonal level, you would think that breastfeeding would help protect from depression. For some moms it does. For others it may not.

Breastfeeding also forces mom to sit down and take a break. Both infants and children feed off mom's mood. If mom is relaxed and at ease her children should also be more relaxed and at ease. One of the most important things for a mom struggling with a postpartum mood disorder to do is to take time out for herself. Sometimes the only way I could take time for myself was to sit down and nurse.

I breastfed my first daughter for 16 months. Yet I still struggled with depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive behavior. I have talked with other mothers who found breastfeeding to be the source of their stress and anxiety. They did not start to bond with their babies until they stopped nursing. When I was nursing it was the one thing I was doing right. I did not want to give it up and as a result was refused medication by my physician. It is possible to be medicated while breastfeeding. An excellent resource for this is the forum at Dr. Thomas Hale's website. You can also speak with the great doctors at Emory Women's Program right here in Atlanta if this is something you are concerned about.

Bottom line here is that breastfeeding may help ward off depression but not for every woman and not during every postpartum experience. It is important to make informed decisions which best fit your experience and situation at the time you are having them. Make these decisions with no regrets, move forward with confidence, and you will find yourself sailing just a bit smoother through the sometimes dire Straits of Motherhood.

If you are experiencing Postpartum Mood Disorders, please contact Postpartum Support International for help and local resources. You are not alone.