Examination of postpartum breastfeeding selfefficayc and obsessive compulsive behaviors in baby care of women who experienceddistress during pregnancy

This descriptive and longitudinal study was conducted to examine the breastfeeding self-efficacy and obsessive-compulsive behaviors related to infant care in postpartum women who experienced distress during pregnancy. The study sample consisted of 290 pregnant women aged between 20 and 49 years, with at least primary school education and at a minimum of 13 weeks of gestation (primiparous or multiparous). Data were collected in two phases: during the second or third trimester using the Participant Information Form and the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS), and between the 2nd and 8th weeks postpartum using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form (BSES-SF) and the Maternal Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Questionnaire Related to Infant Care in the Postpartum Period. The data were found to be normally distributed, and parametric tests were used for analysis. The participants had a mean age of 27.78±5.52 years. The mean TPDS score was 18.06±4.93, the mean BSES-SF score was 52.92±6.58, and the mean score for obsessive-compulsive behaviors related to infant care was 32.66±6.35. A statistically significant, positive, and low-level correlation was found between the TPDS score and the postpartum obsessive-compulsive behavior score (p<0.05). As pregnancy distress increased, obsessive-compulsive behaviors in the postpartum period also increased. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between the TPDS and BSES-SF scores (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant, positive, and low-level correlation between breastfeeding self-efficacy and obsessive-compulsive behaviors (p<0.05). Regression analysis indicated that a one-unit increase in the TPDS score resulted in a 0.106-unit increase in the obsessive-compulsive behavior score. Based on these findings, it is recommended that psychological well-being during pregnancy be prioritized in maternal healthcare. Antenatal education programs led by midwives should incorporate content focused on recognizing and managing distress, as well as strengthening emotional resilience. In the postpartum period, early identification of dysfunctional maternal behaviors and the provision of appropriate psychosocial support may help enhance maternal mental health and strengthen mother-infant bonding. A holistic and continuous approach encompassing both pregnancy and the postpartum period should be adopted, with psychosocial assessments and support mechanisms integrated into routine healthcare services. Keywords in English: Pregnancy; Distress; Postpartum period; Breastfeeding self-efficacy; Obessive-compulsive behaviors