As part of the Birthing Review in Victoria (Australia) all women giving
birth in Victoria in one week (in 1989) were sent questionnaires when
the baby was 8-9 months. More than 1000 questionnaires were distributed
and 71% returned. So this is probably the largest study of this kind.
Overall 14.6% of women scored as depressed on the Edinburgh Depression
Scale. Apparently women who were NOT breastfeeding were more likely to
score as depressed ( I have the report: Having a Baby in Victoria in
front of me, but can't find this in it - however, I've definitley heard
Judith Lumley present this at meetings - perhaps someone else can find a
reference for it?).
My feeling is that women who are depressed are more likely to give up
breastfeeding, and this is supported by a pilot study published by Tuula
Tammninen in Finland (Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica, 344: 87-94, 1988).
Lisa Amir
GP / IBCLC in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia