The relationships between maternal psychological state, breastfeeding difficulty and breastfeeding patterns

Breastfeeding difficulties and maternal psychological problems are known risk factors for breastfeeding discontinuation. This study assessed the relationships between breastfeeding difficulties, maternal psychological state and breastfeeding patterns. This longitudinal study carried out on 358 pregnant women. Psychological state and breastfeeding difficulties were assessedusing the general health questionnaire-28 and the breastfeeding experience scale respectively. We assessed breastfeeding method during two months postpartum. Data analyses were performedusing multiple, logistic regression, t-test, and ANOVA. Multiple regression controlling for education and previous breastfeeding experience revealed that maternal antenatal psychological stateindependently influenced breastfeeding difficulties. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that with each unit increase in breastfeeding difficulties score, the odd for developing postpartum psychological problems was 1.098. Mothers who were partially breastfeeding during the first two-month postpartum had higher breastfeeding difficulties score than mothers who were exclusively or predominantly breastfeeding. To promote exclusive breastfeeding, intervention in relieving breastfeeding difficulties especially for mothers with psychological problems is recommended.