The new paradigm for depression in new mothers: current findings on maternal depression, breastfeeding and resiliency across the lifespan.

Abstract

The results from these recent studies demonstrate that breastfeeding has a much larger role to play in maintaining physical and mental health than we have previously believed. It's not just the milk. Because breastfeeding increases maternal responsivity, it makes the day-to-day experience of mothering more tolerable. It increases the chances that the babies will be securely attached and will not have their stress and inflammatory response systems chronically up-regulated. Breastfeeding is so much more than just a method of feeding. It's a way of caring for a baby that will provide a lifetime's worth of good health because it provides a way for mothers to connect with their babies, even if they did not experience that kind of care themselves. In short, breastfeeding can make the world a happier and healthier place, one mother and baby at a time.