Short- and medium-term breastfeeding effects on somatic and psychosocial complaints of mothers

Background: Although some long-term effects of breastfeeding on maternal health are known, little is known about the effects of breastfeeding during the breastfeeding period.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to asses the short- and medium-term breastfeeding effects on somatic and psychosocial complaints of mothers.

Design and Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed with a base-line questionnaire at 1–5 days post partum and a follow-up questionnaire at 5–6 months post partum (N=69).

Results: 1–5 days after delivery painful perineum (44.2%), backache (24.4%) and sore nipples (23.3%) were the most common complaints in the total sample whereas 5–6 months after delivery tiredness/ exhaustion (49.4%), haemorrhoids (27.7%) and painful perineum (24.1%) were on top of the list of complaints. A remarkable difference regarding the SOC-Score-development of the formula and the breastfeeding group appeared within the puerperal period. In the Formula group the SOC-Score declined from 52.7 to 48.7. In the breastfeeding group the SOC-Score increased from 50.9 to 51.6.

Conclusions: Besides wide spread health problems like exhaustion, haemorrhoids, painful perineum and backache, many breastfeeding women additionally have to deal with sore nipples and mastitis. On the other hand there is evidence that women can profit from breastfeeding in the sense of mastering a challenge, which is expressed in a higher SOC-Score comparing to formula feeding women.