The Relationship Between Maternal Perinatal Depression and Feeding Behavior Among Primiparas

The goal of this observational study is to explore the impact of pregnancy depression on infant feeding, and to explore the two-way relationship between postpartum depression and infant feeding. Participants will be asked to finish questionnaires four times (24 weeks of pregnancy to before delivery, 2 month postpartum, 4 month postpartum, 6 month postpartum).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Breastfeeding; Perinatal Depression; Complementary Feeding

Detailed Description

Background: Perinatal depression and infant feeding (breastfeeding and complementary feeding) are important global health issues. The prevalence of perinatal depression is high around the world, and breastfeeding rates in middle- and high-income countries are on a downward trend. Past research has pointed out that perinatal depression is related to infant feeding. However, there is a lack of research on the impact of maternal depression on infant feeding in Asian Chinese pregnant women, and "whether there is a bidirectional causal relationship between postpartum depression and infant feeding" remains unclear.

Purpose: To explore the impact of pregnancy depression on infant feeding, and to explore the two-way relationship between postpartum depression and infant feeding.

Method: This is a longitudinal cohort study. It's estimated to recruit 500 pregnant women. It is planned to recruit participants at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of National Taiwan University Hospital. At the same time, research recruitment advertisements will also be posted online. This study will collect data by questionnaires distributed a total four times (24 weeks of pregnancy to before delivery, 2 month postpartum, 4 month postpartum, 6 month postpartum). Variables include: sociodemographics, maternal variables (parity, number of births, planned pregnancy, maternal complications, mode of delivery, height and weight during pregnancy and postpartum, blood pressure), infant variables (gender, health status , height, weight), anticipatory feeding schedule, health-risk behaviors (smoking and alcohol use), social support, situation of breastfeeding and complementary feeding, reactive feeding, sleep, fatigue, exercise habits, and tendency to depression.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 500

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: HUNG-HUI CHEN; Phone Number: 886-2-2394-7109; Email: hunghuichen@ntu.edu.tw

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan
    • Recruiting
    • National Taiwan University Hospital
    • Contact: HUNG-HUI CHEN; Phone Number: +886-2-23947109; Email: hunghuichen@ntu.edu.tw

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

It is planned to recruit participants at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of National Taiwan University Hospital. At the same time, research recruitment advertisements will also be posted online.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primipara
• Adult women over 18 years old
• Those with no recurrent pregnancy loss and stable signs of pregnancy
• Those who agree to participate in this study

Exclusion Criteria:

• No exclusion conditions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
perinatal depression	Depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.	24 weeks of pregnancy to before delivery, 2 month postpartum, 4 month postpartum, 6 month postpartum
breastfeeding situation	Questions contain whether breastfeeding is continued, the type of feeding (breastfeeding or formula feeding), whether additional liquids are fed and the amount of feeding, etc.	2 month postpartum, 4 month postpartum, 6 month postpartum
complementary feeding situation	Questions contain types of food, starting age of introduction, daily feeding amount and daily feeding times, etc.	4 month postpartum, 6 month postpartum
maternal variables	Questions contain parity, number of births, planned pregnancy, maternal complications, mode of delivery, height in centimeters, weight in kilograms, blood pressure, etc. Height and weight will be measured during pregnancy and postpartum(Height and weight will be combined to report BMI in kg/m^2).	24 weeks of pregnancy to before delivery, 2 month postpartum, 4 month postpartum, 6 month postpartum
infant variables	Questions contain gender, health status , height in centimeters, weight in grams.	2 month postpartum, 4 month postpartum, 6 month postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: HUNG-HUI CHEN, National Taiwan University Hostiptal

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 19, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 21, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 21, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): January 30, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 19, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 16, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: breastfeeding; postpartum depression; prenatal depression; complementary feeding
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Mental Disorders; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Mood Disorders; Puerperal Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Behavior; Feeding Behavior; Depression, Postpartum; Breast Feeding
• Other Study ID Numbers: 202310157RINC

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No