Antidepressant medication may be beneficial to mothers who are breast feeding, according to a recent study.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia found that women on antidepressant medication are more successful at breastfeeding their babies if they keep they keep taking the medication, compared with women who quit antidepressants because of concerns about their babies' health.

"This is a really important message because we know that breastfeeding has immense benefits for the child and the mum herself, including a degree of protection against post-natal depression," Luke Grzeskowiak, researcher from the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute, said in a statement. "The amount of antidepressant medication that finds its way into a mother's breast milk is very low. On the balance of it, we believe that continuing to take antidepressant medication and maintaining regular breastfeeding will be the best outcome for both the baby and the mother."

For the study, researchers analyzed data from the Danish National Birth Cohort in Denmark. They studied the outcomes of 368 women who were on antidepressants prior to becoming pregnant.

Sixty-seven percent of the study participants stopped taking their antidepressant medication either after becoming pregnant or during breastfeeding.

Based on their findings, women who continued to take antidepressant medication throughout their pregnancy, and while breastfeeding, were much more successful at maintaining breastfeeding up to and beyond the recommended six months.

"In contrast, those women who had stopped taking antidepressants were also more likely to stop breastfeeding within the recommended six months," Grzeskowiak said.

He added that many women struggle with decisions about what to do with medications both during pregnancy and lactation.

"If they're taking antidepressants, they should be supported and encouraged by family members, friends and healthcare professionals to continue with their medication, knowing that good breastfeeding outcomes are all-important for them and their child," Grzeskowiak said.

The findings were presented this week at the 18th Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) Annual Conference in Perth.