While we know that infant feeding method has an impact on maternal mental health, it is often not talked about. The way we choose to feed our babies is a deeply personal decision and may shift and change at different times during the postpartum period.

“New York is the first state in the U.S. to require paid leave for prenatal care. While some women are using the time off for medical appointments, others don’t know that it’s available.”

By Emma G. Fitzsimmons

“Women face a higher lifetime risk, with prevalence rates of 40% and 26% for anxiety and depression, respectively, compared to 20% and 15% in men (Gregory et al. 2020; Hasin et al. 2018). The perinatal period represents a particularly vulnerable time, with depression and anxiety emerging as among the most common complications of childbirth (Luca et al. 2020). Across the globe, at least one in five women experiences a mental health disorder during pregnancy or in the year after birth (Fawcett et al. 2019; World Health Organization 2022b).”

“Psychiatric morbidity is the most common childbirth complication with 1 in 5 women experiencing a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. The cost of this psychiatric morbidity is pervasive, contributing to devastating maternal health, child developmental, and economic consequences. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and associated changes to perinatal experiences, resulted in profound psychological reactions including increased anxiety, depression, stress disorders, and sleep disturbance, further impacting obstetric patients.”