ReviewCureus2022
Mental Health Benefits of Breastfeeding: A Literature Review.
Review in Cureus, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of breastfeeding rates, factors influencing breastfeeding and practices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).International breastfeeding journal · 2025Pooled it
- Breastfeeding experiences of women with perinatal mental health problems: a systematic review and thematic synthesis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Pooled it
- Aligning Health and Social Systems to Improve Maternal Behaviors and Birth Outcomes Among Clients Engaged in Evidence-Based Home Visiting.American journal of public health · 2026Article
- Cumulative breastfeeding duration and incidence of diabetes in the multiethnic cohort study.Global perspectives on nutrition · 2026Article
- Breastfeeding Practices, Insomnia Symptoms, Anxiety, and Depression Among Lebanese Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study.Food science & nutrition · 2026Article
- Determinants of the Development of Depression in Women During the Postpartum Period.Florence Nightingale journal of nursing · 2026Article
- Breastfeeding in the Context of Trauma and Previous Psychological Experiences: A Narrative Review.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Fathers' perspectives on the breastfeeding experience: a qualitative study.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Women's experiences of breastfeeding during pregnancy: a Turkish descriptive study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Breastfeeding in a Polluted World: Perspective on the Properties of Breast Milk and the Need for Protection.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Analysis of breastfeeding status and influencing factors among healthcare workers in Southwestern China.International breastfeeding journal · 2025Article
- Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect.Brain sciences · 2025Article
- Association between postpartum anxiety and depression and exclusive and continued breastfeeding practices: a cross-sectional study in Nevada, USA.International breastfeeding journal · 2025Article
- Breastfeeding problems and associated factors: a cross-sectional study after the 2023 Türkiye earthquake.International breastfeeding journal · 2025Article
- Breastfeeding: The Multifaceted Impact on Child Development and Maternal Well-Being.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Exploring factors that influence the knowledge and awareness of breastfeeding among Saudi mothers: a qualitative study.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
- Assessing Breastfeeding and Family-Centered Care: A Delphi-Based Scale and Its Prediction of Child Psychological Status.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2025Article
- A longitudinal study of breastfeeding relationships at home during the COVID-19 pandemic: A grounded theory method.Journal of advanced nursing · 2025Article
- Attitudes and Barriers of Polish Women towards Breastfeeding-Descriptive Cross-Sectional On-Line Survey.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Are midwives trained to recognise perinatal depression symptoms? Results of MAMA (MAternal Mood Assessment) cross-sectional survey in Italy.Archives of women's mental health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Pregnancy is typically viewed as a time of emotional well-being for prospective mothers, but for some, this period can negatively impact mental health. However, the relationship between postpartum mental health and breastfeeding is not clearly understood. Considering that many health authorities recommend breastfeeding, clearly defining this relationship is important. This review aims to illustrate the effects that breastfeeding has on the mental health of postpartum mothers. An extensive computerized search was performed through databases of PubMed, CINAHL, and Medline. All studies conducted to determine the effects of breastfeeding on mental health were screened and included in this review. Search terms related to breastfeeding, postpartum, and mental health were used. This review on breastfeeding and postpartum depression (PPD) begins by discussing the correlation between lactation and the maternal stress response. Another component discussed is the duration of breastfeeding and its importance in limiting PPD symptoms. The review then shifts to focus more on the psychological aspects of breastfeeding, notably on changes to the sleep-wake cycle and mother-infant interactions. The final part of the review emphasizes the danger that early breastfeeding cessation imposes on a mother's mental health, portraying how prenatal and early-onset postpartum depression may lead to early breastfeeding cessation. This composite collection of studies clarifies the importance of breastfeeding in reducing the incidence and severity of maternal postpartum depression.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.