New mothers beware: Don’t stop breast-feeding your newborn

If you are a mum-to-be or have recently delivered a baby, then it is advised to breast-feed baby as long as possible at least for a year. Various studies suggest that those women who stop breast-feeding their child very early are vulnerable to anxiety and Depression.

Biorhythm involved in breast-feeding:

In the above process of breast-feeding the hormone prolactin tends to induce sleep in nursing Mother. Hence, reduces anxiety or depression in mothers. Moreover, another hormone called oxytocin which is also released during breast-feeding has anti-depressive action.

But, breast-feeding cessation disrupts this biorhythm, wherein the release of dopamine neurotransmitter is disturbed. Dopamine is commonly associated with the feelings of pleasure; therefore, a low dopamine level may lead to:

• Anxiety: a felling of nervousness, worry, uneasiness etc.
• Depression: feeling of unhappiness and sadness
• Social withdrawal: a feeling of social wellbeing is lost
• Lack of motivation: a person starts thinking that he/she is not capable of anything
• Fatigue: excessive tiredness

Hence, all the mothers out there who are reading this article are requested that if you want to stay mentally fit, please continue to breast-feed your child, it will provide long-term benefit to you and to your child. Happy Motherhood!

(Sources: Breastfeeding and Postpartum Depression: An Overview and Methodological Recommendations for Future Research

Factors Related to Breastfeeding Discontinuation Between Hospital Discharge and 2 Weeks Postpartum

Does breastfeeding offer protection against maternal depressive symptomatology?)