Abstract

Breastfeeding is essential for infant health and development. It is influenced by multiple factors, including maternal mental health. In particular, mothers who present depressive symptoms are at greater risk of presenting breastfeeding difficulties and presenting shorter exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding in general. On the other hand, breastfeeding acts as a protective factor for maternal mental health in some circumstances. Also, breastfeeding difficulties have a negative impact on women’s mental health. This review describes some of the physiological mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of lactation, associated with prolactin, oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. As well as how the lactation experience and the presence of difficulties in this area interact with the mother’s emotional functioning. An integrative model is proposed, which considers hormonal and physiological aspects involved in the complex and bidirectional association between breastfeeding successful establishment and maternal mental health. © 2023 Sociedad Chilena de Obstetricia y Ginecologia. All rights reserved.