Peripartum anxiety symptoms and breastfeeding duration: Prospective observational study

Abstract

Introduction

There's a lack of effective screening methods to predict early breastfeeding cessation. Our study aimed to assess whether a simple screening of anxiety symptoms after the early postpartum period could help identify those families who discontinue exclusive and mixed breastfeeding early, despite their desire to breastfeed.

Methods

This prospective observational study, conducted at a single center, included women who were admitted to the postpartum ward following vaginal term births. Each participant was accompanied by their companions and babies and expressed a desire to breastfeed. Participants were divided into two groups based on whether they exhibited peripartum anxiety symptoms, assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Follow-up assessments of the breastfeeding practices were conducted up to three years postpartum.

Results

A total of 113 eligible women participated in the study, with 92 women successfully followed up for three years. At six months postpartum, 56.5% of the women were exclusively breastfeeding, and 78.3% were still breastfeeding. No significant differences were observed in breastfeeding practices between the group exhibiting peripartum anxiety symptoms and the group without such symptoms.

Conclusion

Our approach, which concentrated on anxiety, did not yield an implementable screening tool for early breastfeeding cessation.