PPD and breastfeeding

I'm at a higher risk for PPD because I have a history of depression and anxiety. I haven't taken anything since before getting pregnant and lately I've been doing O.K. at best. My plan was to breastfeed but now I'm thinking I should just go back on something right away. DH wants me to try to BF even if it's for a few days. Originally my plan was to BF and pump for a year but it doesn't look likely. Just wondering if anyone has experiences similar to this or just wants to share their thoughts to help me figure this out.

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

talking it out with friends who've been there, and in therapy while BFing helped tremendously for me. ( i started going at 7 months pregnant) i was afraid too, and knew i would need help, but did not want to take any meds while BFing. i wasn't on any, but just knew i might be an easy target for PPD. it was really hard emotionally, and i stopped going after a while, and that was a huge mistake for me, because the older my baby got, the more complex my anxiety became. in hindsight, it would have helped if i stayed the course with talk therapy as a means to keep the depression & anxiety down.

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

I have a history of anxiety, mostly panic attacks. I actually felt WAY WAY WAY better when I was breastfeeding than I had in YEARS! I think it had something to do with the hormones. I'd give it a try, you never know.

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

I am going to try. Even if it's a few days it's better than nothing. We may rent a pump and try to store what we can. The problem is I feel like friends are trying to talk me out of BFing.

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

I agree as well. Give it a try for more then a few weeks. The first few weeks are rough emotionally and that is without PPD. I had PPD and had no sings of anxiety or depression before. I would also find yourself a LC and get connected with your hospitals breast feeding support group. That group was/is a lifesaver for me.

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

There are some medications that are OK during pregnancy and breastfeeding in low doses. If you have a psychiatrist that you have dealt with for your anxiety, I would speak to her now. Whatever you choose to do is fine. Please don't feel guilt over whichever choice you make. YOu must make sure that you are taking care of yourself and that you are feeling good. I had some issues with PPD and you can feel free to FM me any time with any questions.

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

I had to stop pumping to go on medication for my heart. I couldn't take care of DS unless I was well, so it was worth it to me, but I stilll felt upset and disappointed in myself.

PPD and breastfeeding

i have heard that breastfeeding can actually help prevent PPD.

that wasn't my experience. i had a very traumatic birth and had PPD and PTSD. my DD was a preemie and in the NICU for a month. she was started on formula in the NICU cause i was too sick to BF or pump until 4 or 5 days after she was born. then i pumped and started BF but my supply was hurt tremendously from the birth trauma (blood loss, meds, etc). i never at any point was able to produce the amount of milk that she needed. so we supplemented with formula a lot. it took me a very long time to come to terms with it. i was always stressing about nursing and pumping and formula feeding. it is just so hard to do all 3 and i did it for 6 months until i stopped pumping and only BF and supplemented with formula.

at 9m she was eating solids and became disinterested in nursing. we were down to only one BF session in the AM (rest was formula) and she really wanted nothing to do with it so we stopped and went to all formula at 9m.

a few weeks later I got my first PP AF and all of the sudden, I finally started to feel better from the PPD and (mostly) PTSD. something about my hormones going back to normal post-partum and post-breastfeeding actually helped everything SO much. i still suffer from setbacks here and there but for the most part the worst of the PPD and PTSD went away with breastfeeding. i felt SO guilty stopping and i didn't want to at all, but in the end it really was what was best for all of us.

good luck with whatever you decide!

ETA - from 3m post partum i started seeing a social worker. my OB prescribed zoloft and i was encourage to take it, even while BFing, but I chose not too. there are things you can take while BFing.

Message edited 7/29/2012 5:09:15 PM.

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

I suffered from pretty severe anxiety and panic attacks prior to becoming pregnant (in fact I was scared to become pregnant and develop PPD /PPA) . I weaned off medication (which was actually making me much worse) about 1.5 years prior to becoming pregnant. I found therapy to be much more helpful then medications (with less negative side effects). I continued therapy through my pregnancy as well to keep things in check and found pregnancy to lessen my anxiety a lot. My DS is now 10 weeks old and we are EBFing. The most recent research suggests that breastfeeding WHEN GOING WELL is protective against PPD and PPA, however if Breastfeeding is going poorly/the mother doesn't have enough help/feeding issues it can actually make PPD/PPA worse. My suggestion is that if you want to try breastfeeding get all the support you will need lined up in advance and be prepared to be ok with any situation. I had a lactation consultant come visit me in the hospital right away and had recommendations for someone to call if we had issues when we went home. I think this helped assuage my fears a lot because I knew where the help was if I needed it. Also having a therapist at the ready if you feel like you need to work through things after delivery is also key! Good luck and congrats:)

Re: PPD and breastfeeding

I was weened off medications prior to getting pregnant. I was doing well until this passed month where I got very stressed out and was having a difficult time. Partly it's my fault. I wasn't following up with therapy. I need to start again and continue while I BF because it's something I really want to try to do. Thank you all for your support. Having that supportive environment is important. My husband is supportive and so is my mom. She lives OOS but says if I need her,call and she'll come to NY.