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Abstract
According to the 2008 CDC report, nearly one out of every eight women are affected by postpartum depression at one point or another in their lives. The purpose of my research was to study the potential effects of breastfeeding on postpartum depression. The objective was to study how breastfeeding affects the occurrence of postpartum depression in mothers in the United States. To understand the relationship between postpartum depression and breastfeeding, I read science journal articles describing the biological background behind breastfeeding and postpartum depression. I read psychology and biology journal articles dealing with possible forms of treatment for postpartum depression and how they may be affected by breastfeeding. Also, I read science journal articles dealing with the cause and effect relationship between the two. From my research, I came to multiple conclusions. First, breastfeeding does help to prevent and reduce the occurrence of postpartum depression. Although this is true, the cause and effect relationship between postpartum depression and breastfeeding depends on the situation. For example, for some individuals, lack of breastfeeding may cause the occurrence of postpartum depression. In other cases postpartum depression may cause the early cessation of breastfeeding. There is no definitive answer. After gathering all my research, there is still much research that needs to be conducted in this field.
Publication Date
2015
Current Academic Year
Freshman
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Faye Prichard
Rights
© The Author(s)