The Neurological and Psychological Effects of Breastfeeding on Women

Abstract

Breastfeeding is the key element of infant feeding and has played a vital role in promoting infant health throughout history. It provides all the necessary nutrients for infants to grow and develop. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends initiating breastfeeding right after birth and continuing with exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, followed by complementary feeding up to 24 months of age. The WHO has also set targets to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates by 2025. As scientific research has advanced, the benefits of breastfeeding for infant health have become increasingly apparent, not only for metabolic diseases but also for cognitive health. As a result, researchers have started examining whether breastfeeding has any neurological or psychological effects on lactating mothers. In this review, we examined current research on the neurological and psychological effects of breastfeeding on women.