https://revistas.usal.es/cinco/index.php/lamater <p>The <em>Revista de Lactancia Materna</em> is a scientific journal published by <a href="https://eusal.es/">eUSAL</a>and promoted by <a href="http://aelama.org">AELAMA</a> (Spanish Association for the Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding), with the support of the <a href="https://www.ihan.es/">IHAN</a> (Initiative for the Humanization of Birth and Breastfeeding), whose objective is the dissemination of research works, bibliographic reviews, recommendations and positioning on breastfeeding based on scientific evidence.</p> es-ES revistalm@aelama.org (AELAMA) redero@usal.es (Angel Redero ) Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100 OJS 3.3.0.13 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 https://revistas.usal.es/cinco/index.php/lamater/article/view/32605 Objetives: Despite support for breastfeeding, many mothers are unable to breastfeed as they wish. There are frequent breastfeeding difficulties, feelings of guilt, loneliness and shame, and cessation is sometimes associated with depression. The objective is to conduct a review on the relationship between breastfeeding experiences and maternal mental health and to provide recommendations to professionals and families. Material and methods: a review of the literature published in PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane, APA PsycNet, PsycINFO, Enfispo and CINHAL was carried out with the keywords «maternal/motherhood», «experience breastfeeding», «guilt», «anxiety» and «depression». Results: Breastfeeding difficulties, lack of support and early cessation are predisposing factors for maternal depression while satisfactory breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact and having a social support network are protective. A discordance between expectations and actual experience may be associated with worse maternal mental health. Individualized and multidisciplinary interventions are more successful. Conclusions: The association between breastfeeding and depression or anxiety is inverse and bidirectional and it is influenced by maternal expectations. The postpartum period is a period of special vulnerability, professionals and families should help mothers without judging or negatively influencing their experiences. More research is needed on factors that determine the breastfeeding experience and the effectiveness of interventions. Breastfeeding is not just the option or responsibility of the mother, it is the responsibility of the entire society. Edurne Ciriza Barea, Andrea Codoñer Canet, Marta Gómez Fernández-Vegue, Elia Oliva González, Marta Sánchez Mena, Miguel Menéndez Orenga Copyright (c) 2025 Edurne Ciriza Barea, Andrea Codoñer Canet, Marta Gómez Fernández-Vegue, Elia Oliva González, Marta Sánchez Mena, Miguel Menéndez Orenga http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ https://revistas.usal.es/cinco/index.php/lamater/article/view/32605 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100