Preventing postpartum depression

Pediatrics for Parents, April, 2002 by Michael K. Meyerhoff

Having a new baby should be a joyous time. Yet nearly 30% of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression. A recent study found that breast-feeding helps prevent this problem.

There were 605 breast-feeding women in the study along with 378 women who didn't breast-feed. During the first year only 15% of the breast-feeding women experienced depression compared to 30% of the women in the bottle feeding group. The "protection" of breast-feeding lessened over time. By the third year of the study there was no significant difference in depression rates in the two groups.

There's no question that breast-feedings is good for the baby. Here's another way that breast-feeding benefits the mother.

Family Practice News, 8/1/02.