Postnatal depression and infant feeding: a review of the evidence.

Source: British Journal of Midwifery, 2011, 19 (10), p. 619-624.

Follow this link for abstract.

Date of publication: 6^th October, 2011.

Publication type: Review.

In a nutshell: A review exploring the recent evidence suggesting that breastfeeding may confer maternal psychoprotection and protect against postnatal depression (PND).

Length of publication: 6 pages.

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

The long-term effects of breastfeeding on child and adolescent mental health: a pregnancy cohort study followed for 14 Years – an Australian study

Source: The Journal of Pediatrics

The Journal of Pediatrics, Article in Press, publication details tba. Published online on 14 December 2009.

Click here to see abstract.

Date of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This research set out to find whether breastfeeding affects child and adolescent mental health.  Results suggested that a short duration of breastfeeding may be “a predictor” of poor mental health during child and adolsecent development.

Length of publication: 7 pages

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The relationship between infant-feeding outcomes and postpartum depression: a qualitative systematic review

Source: EBSCO

Pediatrics,  Apr 2009,  123(4), pp.e736-51

Follow this link for abstract.

Date of publication: April 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell:  This is a systematic review to ascertain whether there are links in the relationship between maternal depression and breastfeeding. It was seen that postpartum depression negatively influenced infant-feeding outcomes, which suggest the need for early identification and treatment of depressive symptoms.

Length of publication: 16 pages

Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Psychotropic drugs in lactation

Source:  Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

For fulltext link here

For Abstract link here

Year of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell:

Breast feeding is accompanied by numerous clinical and psychosocial advantages for both the mother and her child. Since most drugs will pass into human milk in some amount, the lactating mother who requires pharmacotherapy adds complexity to the risk-benefit assessment for clinicians making treatment decisions. In the case of psychotropic medications this issue is particularly worrisome since women who are not well controlled will have impaired bonding with their child.
Part of the continuum of treating women with psychiatric disease in pregnancy concerns the treatment of women after delivery, and for many, this will include drug treatment during lactation. The goal is to describe the issues and outline what is currently known about the use of psychotropic drugs in breastfeeding women.

Length of publication: 9 pages