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I did everything right according to my lactation nurse and I still had trouble nursing my son after he was born. Even when he figured out how to latch without chewing my nipples off, I didn’t seem to produce enough milk, ever. I even tried pumping for what seemed like endless hours of g-force suction on my poor bosom. I felt like a failure and can totally understand why moms struggle with these feelings, and how there may be a link between postpartum depression and breastfeeding.
The stress caused by breastfeeding problems
For as natural as everyone says it is, breastfeeding doesn’t always just happen. And this is frustrating for moms who are concerned about giving baby the right healthy start in life. Breastfeeding is known to help babies’ immune systems thrive and helps reduce the chances of things like ear infections and allergies. So what happens when you want to breastfeed and it just isn’t happening?
As a mom, you can start to blame yourself for being inadequate and incapable of doing what is natural and normal. For me, the decision to supplement my son’s nursing with a bottle was tough. All I could think about was how I wasn’t giving him all the healthy milk he deserved. After all, we want our babies to have the best and there is no question that breastmilk is the best for them. In a way I was lucky, my mom made the decision for me and started supplementing his feedings. She helped me realize that it was milk that he needed and he wasn’t getting enough from me; he needed more.
But postpartum depression (PPD) is real. While I was able to stave off depression, I have friends who didn’t. “Postpartum depression is a mental health condition that can occur after giving birth. The cause is a sudden drop in hormones once the baby and placenta have left the body, and the body rapidly tries to return to a pre-pregnancy state,” psychiatrist Patricia Celen, M.D. told Mom.com.
If a mother’s breastfeeding struggles are contributing to her PPD symptoms, it is advised that they’re made to feel comfortable altering their breastfeeding goals, and shouldn’t feel guilty if they seek alternative methods of feeding their baby.
Breastfeeding struggles that lead to postpartum depression
Postpartum depression doesn’t always show up in the one to two postpartum visits new moms have with their OBGYN. Yet, it is reported that one in seven women will experience postpartum depression within a year of having their baby. Is there really a link to breastfeeding difficulties and postpartum depression?
A British study conducted by the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), found that when moms had planned on breastfeeding but for some reason didn’t, they had a higher incidence of postpartum depression.
Studies like this draw the link to a mom’s image of herself as mother is rooted, in part, in breastfeeding. When that doesn’t happen perfectly, moms feel inadequate and are more likely to get depresssed.
Recognize the signs of postpartum depression
It’s hard to distinguish what is just a hormonal mess after you have your baby and what is postpartum depression. While you may have mood swings, anxiety, and irritability with the simple baby blues, postpartum depression goes deeper.
Chicago mom Amanda Cho says the feelings just got out of control. “It upset me that I didn’t have the joy everyone talks about after having your baby,” she told Mom.com. “I felt inadequate in so many ways and just wanted to stay in bed and sleep.”
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of PPD, ask your doctor as soon as possible if they recommend treatment, and which one is right for you.
The signs and symptoms of postpartum depression include:
- Severe mood swings
- Excessive crying
- Trouble bonding with your baby
- Withdrawing from support network
- Change in eating habits
- Sleep problems (too much or too little)
- Overwhelming fatigue and loss of energy
- Reduced interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Irritability and anger
- Fear you aren’t a good mother
- Hopelessness
- Inability to think clearly or concentrate
- Panic attacks
- Thoughts of harming your baby
- Self-harm thoughts
Not all these symptoms need to be present for you to be diagnosed with postpartum depression. Talk to your doctor if you feel you are becoming depressed. The sooner you get treatment, the faster you will be able to enjoy being with your baby again.
Treating postpartum depression while breastfeeding
Your doctor will discuss the best treatment options available to you. The CDC says that medication does pass into breastmilk, but most medications have little to no effect on the milk supply or the well-being of your baby. Your doctor will take into consideration if you are breastfeeding or not before recommending medication.
Usually, a treatment plan includes both psychotherapy and antidepressants. The antidepressants are designed to help your body’s hormone and chemical imbalance to correct itself to reduce the symptoms of depression. Psychotherapy will help you process the things giving you stress and anxiety. If breastfeeding problems are a major factor, your psychotherapist will help you assess your feelings about the problem. They may help you realize that all the stress you’re placing on breastfeeding isn’t healthy and there are alternatives to helping your baby get all the nourishment needed.
