Breastfeeding and omega-3 oils, help postnatal depression

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Breastfeeding and good fats help new mums fight depression

"Breastfeeding and the good fats in Omega-3 fatty acids help new mums fight depression."

An article authored by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, a health psychologist and researcher at the University of New Hampshire, was published in May 2007 in the International Breastfeeding Journal.

In it she states "Depression in new mothers is common in many cultures, affecting anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent of postpartum women. In some high-risk populations, the percentage can even be as high as 40 percent or 50 percent. Since depression has devastating effects on both mother and baby, it's vital that it be identified and treated promptly. Depressed mothers are also more likely to stop breastfeeding with negative health effects for each."

She continued that new thinking is that physical and psychological stress give rise to increased inflammation, and that inflammation is one of the main contributors to depression in new mothers. Most current treatments for depression, including the Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, are anti-inflammatory.

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During the last trimester of pregnancy, and continuing after birth, new mothers have an increase of pro-inflammatory agents, called cytokines, in the body. Added to this, common experiences of new motherhood, such as sleep disturbance, postpartum pain, and past or current psychological trauma, act as stressors which further increases levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which in turn further increases risk of depression.

Kathleen Kendall-Tackett continues: "Breastfeeding protects maternal mood by lowering stress. When stress levels are lower, the mother's inflammatory response system will not be activated, thereby lowering her risk of depression."

This, however, will only apply when breastfeeding is going well. If there is pain, it becomes a trigger to depression rather than something that lessens the risk. So if breastfeeding difficulties arise, it's important to seek some help quickly.

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