Research suggests breastfeeding may reduce later depression risk

The months after having a child are often remembered as a blur of exhaustion, emotion and constant adjustment.

Many mothers focus on simply getting through each day, without thinking too far ahead.

But growing evidence suggests that some early-life decisions may quietly shape wellbeing long after nappies and night feeds are gone.

Long-term patterns emerge

A small long-term study published by the BMJ Group followed 168 women for a decade after pregnancy as part of the ROLO Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study in Ireland.

All participants were second-time mothers and were regularly assessed up to ten years after giving birth, when their average age was 42.

Researchers tracked breastfeeding behaviour alongside physical activity, diet and mental health history.

Over the ten-year period, around one in five women reported experiencing depression or anxiety at some point, while 13 percent reported symptoms a decade after pregnancy.

When researchers analysed the data, a clear pattern appeared. Women who had breastfed were less likely to report depression or anxiety years later, particularly those who breastfed for longer or exclusively.

What the data suggests

Nearly three quarters of participants had breastfed, though duration varied widely. Analysis showed that each additional week of exclusive breastfeeding was linked to a lower likelihood of later depression or anxiety, even after accounting for factors such as alcohol intake and lifestyle.

Women reporting mental health difficulties ten years on also tended to be younger, less physically active and to have lower wellbeing scores earlier in life, suggesting multiple influences at play.

Key observations included:

• lower long-term depression and anxiety among women who breastfed
• stronger associations with longer and exclusive breastfeeding
• mental health shaped by both biological and social factors

Limits and implications

The researchers, led by McNestry and colleagues, stress that the study is observational and cannot prove cause and effect. The group was relatively small and lacked broad social and ethnic diversity.

Even so, the findings add to growing evidence that breastfeeding support may have benefits extending well beyond early motherhood.

Improving access and support could play a role in reducing long-term mental health burdens, not only for individuals but for healthcare systems more broadly.