Maternal anxiety and its interference in breastfeeding self-efficacy

Objective: To analyze the relationship of maternal anxiety symptoms with breastfeeding self-efficacy and duration of exclusive breastfeeding.Methods: Prospective cohort study developed in a Breastfeeding Center of a university hospital in the city of Sao Paulo. The sample consisted of 83 postpartum women in follow-up for 210 days after delivery. The Anxiety Subscale of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale were used.Results: The mean total score for anxiety was 3.76 points and for maternal self-efficacy to breastfeed was 128.58. Over the months, anxiety symptoms and breastfeeding self-efficacy showed similar behavior and were not statistically significant. The following risk factors were associated with the increase in anxiety symptoms: abortion, previous history of depression, complaints about oneself, unsatisfactory family and marital relationships, worsening of the relationship with the partner after the baby was born and lower maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, reflected in the technique domain and intrapersonal thoughts domain. The time between cessation of exclusive breastfeeding and anxiety was not statistically different.Conclusion: The investigated postpartum women had a high prevalence of anxiety symptoms, with significant interference in the perception and confidence in their ability and maternal capability to successfully breastfeed the baby. There was no association between anxiety symptoms and early breastfeeding cessation.