Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, Mood, and Breastfeeding Outcomes among Primiparous Women.

Background: A link between postpartum mood and breastfeeding has been established in the literature, but little is known about the relationship of breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) to breastfeeding and mood outcomes, particularly in primiparous women.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the relationship among BSE, mood, and breastfeeding outcomes in primiparous women. A secondary purpose was to explore self-reported reasons for difficult emotional adjustment during the transition to motherhood.

Maternal expectations and postpartum emotional adjustment in first-time mothers: results of a questionnaire survey.

Objective: Several predictors of postpartum mood have been identified in the literature, but the role of maternal expectations in postpartum mental health remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify whether maternal expectations during the postpartum hospital stay predict adjustment and depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum.

Methods: The sample included 233 first-time mothers recruited from the postpartum unit of a Midwestern hospital.