The Correlation of Postpartum Depression, Breastfeeding Prevalence, and Milk Production in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Dublin Core
Title
The Correlation of Postpartum Depression, Breastfeeding Prevalence, and Milk Production in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Subject
breast milk feeding, breast milk production, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Neonates
Description
Breastfeeding is essential, particularly for newborns with severe health issues in the neonatal intensive
care unit (NICU), where they frequently have to be separated from their mothers. Breastfeeding in the NICU
requires a sufficient supply of breast milk from the mother, and this can be influenced by the mother's
psychological condition. This study aimed to examine the correlation of postpartum depression with breast milk
feeding prevalence and production in mothers with neonates in the NICU. This cross-sectional quantitative study
included 42 mothers and infant dyads in the NICU in Malang, East Java, and was conducted between September
and November 2024. The questionnaire of mothers and infants characteristics, the Edinburgh Postpartum
Depression Scale, and the breast milk feeding prevalence observational sheet were used for the investigation. The
correlation of postpartum depression with breast milk prevalence and breast milk production was measured by the
Rank Spearman Test. Breast milk feeding prevalence was 64.3%, partial breast milk feeding was 31%, and
formula milk was 4.8%. The proportion of mild and severe postpartum depression was 35.7%, and the rest of
them were without depression (28.5%). Postpartum depression was not associated with the prevalence of breast
milk feeding (p=0.140), but there was a significant correlation with breast milk production (p=0.04; r= -0.319).
We found that greater postpartum depression was associated with lower breast milk production, but there was no
correlation with the prevalence of breast milk feeding in the NICU. These findings highlight the importance of sufficient support for mothers with neonates in the NICU to produce enough breast milk supply.
care unit (NICU), where they frequently have to be separated from their mothers. Breastfeeding in the NICU
requires a sufficient supply of breast milk from the mother, and this can be influenced by the mother's
psychological condition. This study aimed to examine the correlation of postpartum depression with breast milk
feeding prevalence and production in mothers with neonates in the NICU. This cross-sectional quantitative study
included 42 mothers and infant dyads in the NICU in Malang, East Java, and was conducted between September
and November 2024. The questionnaire of mothers and infants characteristics, the Edinburgh Postpartum
Depression Scale, and the breast milk feeding prevalence observational sheet were used for the investigation. The
correlation of postpartum depression with breast milk prevalence and breast milk production was measured by the
Rank Spearman Test. Breast milk feeding prevalence was 64.3%, partial breast milk feeding was 31%, and
formula milk was 4.8%. The proportion of mild and severe postpartum depression was 35.7%, and the rest of
them were without depression (28.5%). Postpartum depression was not associated with the prevalence of breast
milk feeding (p=0.140), but there was a significant correlation with breast milk production (p=0.04; r= -0.319).
We found that greater postpartum depression was associated with lower breast milk production, but there was no
correlation with the prevalence of breast milk feeding in the NICU. These findings highlight the importance of sufficient support for mothers with neonates in the NICU to produce enough breast milk supply.
Creator
Mazaya Ilmi Sabrina, Sholihatul Amaliya, Rinik Eko Kapti
Source
https://doi.org/10.23917/bik.v18i2.10530
Publisher
Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta
Date
2025
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Rights
p-ISSN: 1979-2697
e-ISSN: 2721-1797
e-ISSN: 2721-1797
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Files
Collection
Citation
Mazaya Ilmi Sabrina, Sholihatul Amaliya, Rinik Eko Kapti, “The Correlation of Postpartum Depression, Breastfeeding Prevalence, and Milk Production in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 12, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/10807.