Association Between Regular Postpartum Breastfeeding Counseling and Maternal-infant Bonding: Second-month Postpartum Outcomes

Breastfeeding Counseling and Maternal-infant Bonding

Abstract

Objective: Maternal-infant bonding is central to postpartum psychological adaptation, and breastfeeding-related difficulties may adversely affect maternal emotional well-being and bonding. This study investigated the association between regular postpartum breastfeeding counseling and maternal-infant bonding during the second postpartum month.
Methods: In this single-center analytical observational study, 103 postpartum women were evaluated at 60 ± 7 days after delivery and grouped according to whether they received regular breastfeeding counseling during the first postpartum week. Maternal-infant bonding was assessed with the validated Turkish version of the Mother-to-infant bonding scale (MIBS). Groups were compared using Student’s t-test and the chi-square test, and multivariable linear regression evaluated the independent association between regular counseling and total MIBS scores.
Results: Overall, 44 (42.7%) participants received regular counseling and 59 (57.3%) did not. Those who received counseling had significantly lower total MIBS scores (2.30 ± 2.15 vs. 6.39 ± 2.43; p < 0.001), with significant differences also across several exploratory item scores (all p < 0.01). In multivariable regression, regular counseling remained independently associated with lower total MIBS scores [β = -4.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): -5.43 to -3.58; p < 0.001], as did employment status (β = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.29-2.32; p = 0.012).
Conclusion: Regular postpartum breastfeeding counseling was associated with more favorable maternal-infant bonding during the second postpartum month. Given the observational design, this represents an association rather than a causal relationship, and randomized prospective studies are warranted to confirm it.