Positive Emotions During Infant Feeding and Postpartum Mental Health

Abstract

Background: Research shows that individuals can improve mental health by increasing experiences of positive emotions. However, the role of positive emotions in perinatal mental health has not been investigated. This study explored the extent to which positive emotions during infant feeding are associated with maternal depression and anxiety during the first year postpartum. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty-four women drawn from a longitudinal cohort of mother-infant dyads were followed from the third trimester through 12 months postpartum. We measured positive emotions during infant feeding at 2 months using the mean subscale score of the modified Differential Emotions Scale. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II and State Trait Anxiety Inventory-State subscale at months 2, 6, and 12. Generalized linear mixed models were used to estimate crude and multivariable associations. Results: Among women with no clinical depression during pregnancy, higher positive emotions during infant feeding at 2 months were associated with significantly fewer depression symptoms at 2, 6, and 12 months and with lower odds of clinically significant depression symptoms at 2 and 6 months. In contrast to depression outcomes, women with clinical anxiety during pregnancy who experienced higher positive emotions had significantly fewer anxiety symptoms at 2, 6, and 12 months and lower odds of clinically significant anxiety at 2 and 6 months. Conclusions: Positive emotions during infant feeding are associated with depression and anxiety outcomes during the first year postpartum and may be a modifiable protective factor for maternal mental health.

Positive Emotions During Infant Feeding and Breastfeeding Outcomes

“…The lack of modification of our findings by prenatal psychopathology or infant feeding status at 2 months suggests that the experiential and relational aspects of infant feeding may yield benefits regardless of early postpartum challenges. Therefore, healthcare providers and peer supporters should address the maternal emotional experience of infant feeding regardless of infant feeding method, given the potential benefits for both postpartum mental health (Wouk, Gottfredson et al, 2018) and overall maternal satisfaction with breastfeeding.…”

Breast Is (Viewed as) Best: Demonstrating Formula Feeding Stigma

“…For example, one interview study revealed that, although mothers expressed high levels of “relief and pleasure” after using formula, they also experienced significant negative affect (e.g., guilt, sense of failure) and concerns about negative reactions from others, especially health care providers (Lee, 2007). Because the experience of positive emotions during infant feeding is associated with fewer subsequent symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety (Wouk et al, 2018), stigmatizing formula feeding may exacerbate the risk of developing these conditions. Additionally, evidence suggests that concerns about encountering stigma impede caregivers from receiving adequate information about safe formula feeding practices, potentially undermining parenting confidence during the critical postpartum period and also endangering infants (Hvatum & Glavin, 2016; Lee, 2007; Wirihana & Barnard, 2012).…”

Factors associated with exclusive formula feeding among individuals with low‐risk pregnancies in the United States

“…[2][3][4][5] Additionally, breastfeeding has protective effects against postpartum depression, anxiety, and optimize stress responses. [6][7][8] Benefits to the infant include a reduced risk of infectious disease, sudden infant death syndrome, or metabolic disease, and higher intelligence scores in young adults. [9][10][11][12] Thus, it is understandable that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), and the World Health Organization recommend that infants should be exclusively breastfed for 6 months unless there is a contraindication.…”

“…Maternal breastfeeding benefits include a reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, hypertensive disorder, or diabetes 2‐5 . Additionally, breastfeeding has protective effects against postpartum depression, anxiety, and optimize stress responses 6‐8 . Benefits to the infant include a reduced risk of infectious disease, sudden infant death syndrome, or metabolic disease, and higher intelligence scores in young adults 9‐12 .…”