Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental health issue affecting nearly 20% of mothers worldwide. PPD has a severe impact on both maternal and infant health. Breastfeeding has many benefits, including a protective effect against PPD. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of breastfeeding in reducing the risk of PPD.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, and PsycINFO databases from 2021 to 2024, following PRISMA guidelines. We assessed the impact of breastfeeding on postpartum depression (PPD). We also looked at secondary factors like how long and how often women breastfed and different breastfeeding patterns to see how they affected PPD. The studies included reproductive-age women, original research articles, and those assessing the relationship between breastfeeding and PPD.

Results: We included studies from 2021 to 2024 to assess the latest evidence. We reviewed sixtyfour full-text articles and found that 28 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies included cross-sectional, prospective, cohort, and randomized controlled trials with sample sizes ranging from 61 to 71,448 participants. We found that exclusive breastfeeding is associated with lower PPD scores, reduced risk of PPD, and showed a protective effect against PPD. We found that early initiation and longer duration of breastfeeding were a protective factor against PPD. However, some studies reported that additional factors, such as maternal stress and other socioeconomic status, can influence this relationship.

Conclusion: This systematic review supports breastfeeding as having a positive effect on PPD. Exclusive breastfeeding significantly reduces the risk of PPD, while stopping breastfeeding within six months can negatively affect maternal well-being. Therefore, sustaining exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of postpartum is essential, and promoting it through comprehensive education and social support to enhance maternal well-being.

Keywords: Postpartum depression, breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, maternal health, mental health, systematic review.

Khutaija Noor earned her Bachelor of Medicine, and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India, in 2015. She later completed the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams, achieving ECFMG certification. In 2024, she earned a certificate in Foundations of Clinical Research from Harvard University. From 2015 to 2022, she served as a Duty Medical Officer and Counselor, where she gained extensive experience in various therapeutic areas. In 2021, she began her role as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Psych Care Consultant Research in St. Louis, MO. In this role, she assisted Physician Investigators in FDA-approved pharmaceutical clinical trials, handling subject recruitment, screening, enrollment, data management, and analysis. She is also a certified rater, conducting assessments such as PANSS, SDS, MINI, CGI-S, CDSS, C-SSRS, YMRS, S-STS, and psychiatric evaluations. Her contributions have significantly impacted numerous clinical trials focusing on major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, cognitive impairment, opioid use disorder, oncology, hematology, and more. Dr. Noor has a strong background in research writing, with multiple peer-reviewed publications and presentations at prestigious conferences. She has received awards for her contributions, including Top 6 Poster at the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) 2024 and Top 4 Poster Presentation at the Best of ASCO 2024 Miami Symposium. Her certifications include Good Clinical Practice (Citi Program), Basic Life Support (American Heart Association), HIPAA Certification, and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS), among others. She actively participates in conferences and investigator meetings.