Breastfeeding & Mental Health
If you search for information on mental health issues and breastfeeding you will find a lot of conflicting information. You will read that breastfeeding can promote relaxation, bonding and prevent postpartum depression. There are many stories out there of women who felt that breastfeeding improved their physical and emotional health. You will also come across the view that the pressure to breastfeed can exacerbate postpartum stress and increase the risk for postpartum mood and anxiety problems. Finally, there are stories of women who felt that breastfeeding stood in the way of getting proper treatment for postpartum mood or anxiety issues.
Psychological Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding your child can be a very positive time in your life. Once breastfeeding is established, relaxing hormones are released for both mother and baby. Successful breastfeeding relationships are associated with lower rates of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Another possible benefit of breastfeeding is that it may help women heal from birth trauma. Women who feel that their body failed them during labor and delivery may find that successfully breastfeeding restores a positive view of their own body and mothering.
Psychological Complications Around Breastfeeding
However, for some, struggles with breastfeeding intensify postpartum depression and anxiety. Research suggests that mothers who want to breastfeed but aren't successful are at a higher risk for postpartum mental health problems than are mothers who planned to formula feed or mothers who were able to nurse successfully. Struggling with breastfeeding leads these mothers to feel more overwhelmed, guilty and ashamed. Eventually, these mothers let go of the nursing relationship that they very much wanted. It is important that all mothers have access to prompt mental health treatment and that those mothers who choose to breastfeed have access to the excellent postpartum lactation support in order to avoid this outcome.
The true nature of the relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum mood and anxiety is complicated. It may be that successfully breastfeeding helps to lower your risk of postpartum mood difficulties. It may also be that having a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder makes it harder to establish a breastfeeding relationship. For example, mothers with postpartum anxiety often feel very worried that their baby is not getting enough milk. If the anxiety is not treated, the mother will prefer to switch to formula in order to be able to measure how much the baby is drinking. It is likely the case that there is an interaction between mood issues and breastfeeding struggles with both issues worsening or improving together. It should also be noted that some researchers suggest that there may be a shared, root cause of both postpartum mood difficulties and failed lactation.
The true nature of the relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum mood and anxiety is complicated. It may be that successfully breastfeeding helps to lower your risk of postpartum mood difficulties. It may also be that having a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder makes it harder to establish a breastfeeding relationship. For example, mothers with postpartum anxiety often feel very worried that their baby is not getting enough milk. If the anxiety is not treated, the mother will prefer to switch to formula in order to be able to measure how much the baby is drinking. It is likely the case that there is an interaction between mood issues and breastfeeding struggles with both issues worsening or improving together. It should also be noted that some researchers suggest that there may be a shared, root cause of both postpartum mood difficulties and failed lactation.
Medications & Breastfeeding
It is common for mothers to assume that taking psychiatric medications means that they must stop nursing. However, most mothers do not need to choose between mental health treatment and breastfeeding. Do not assume that you must wean your baby just because you need to take medication for your mental health. Many, but not all, of the medications used to treat depression and anxiety are compatible with nursing. If you are taking any medications, you can check with the Infant Risk Center to learn more about the safety of your medication for breastfeeding.
Recommendations
My recommendation is that any mother who wants to breastfeed get the best information and support possible so that her journey to nursing is as smooth as possible. With proper information and support, breastfeeding can become a very positive part of your mothering relationship. While breastfeeding is a natural act, establishing one's first breastfeeding relationship can be challenging. It is helpful to surround yourself with other nursing mothers who can give you advice and support. Locally, La Leche League is a great organization to help provide that support.
Getting Nursing off to a Good Start
La Leche League has tips on how to get nursing off to a good start.
Kellymom has a page of resources on getting breastfeeding off to a good start. Stanford Medicine's Newborn Nursery webpage has useful videos and tips. |
When Weaning is the Best Choice
If you are prescribed medications that aren't compatible with breastfeeding, don't let your own health suffer. A mother's mental health is even more important to her baby's well being than is breastfeeding. You may choose to maintain your milk supply by pumping in the hopes of reestablishing nursing once you are done taking medication. You may not make that choice. Either way, don't let anyone discourage you from making the choices that are best for your health. Here is an article that may be useful to those making the choice to stop nursing.
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Post-Weaning Depression
There is little formal research on this topic but there is a growing awareness that women who breastfeed can experience a period of depression or anxiety after weaning, particularly abrupt weaning. This can vary from a mild case of the blues or irritability to a full blown depressive episode. Click here for more information on the topic.
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