DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i04.021

Pages: 1712-1720

Considering the importance of infant’s physical indicators and developmental functions in the first year of life, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of breastfeeding training based on BASNEF model on infants’ growth and development in the women with and without postpartum blues. This semi-experimental study was conducted on 100 subjects in 2012. The intervention group took part in four educational sessions and was provided with pamphlets and CDs. Besides, three sessions were held for their husbands, mothers, and mothers-in-law. The control group only received the hospital’s routine care. Growth and development indicators were assessed using Denver II questionnaire at birth and after 1 and 3 months. Zung depression scale was also completed by the two groups in the first week after delivery. The mean score of postpartum blues was 31.36+7.98 in the intervention group and 37.61+12.15 in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.004). However, no significant relationship was observed between the mean score of postpartum blues and parameters of BASNEF model in the two groups immediately, 1 month, and 3 months after birth (P>0.05). In the intervention group, a significant association was found between the mean score of postpartum blues and mid-upper arm circumference at the age of 3 months (P=0.024) and one item of personal-social domain (P=0.019).The educational intervention was effective in reduction of postpartum blues. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the growth and development indicators. Long-term investigations are recommended to be conducted in order to evaluate growth and development indexes.