Does Breastfeeding reduce the risk of a repeat attack of PND?

[M2T]

Right all you knowledgable bunch... the title says it really.

Dp and I would love to try for another baby next year, but I am TERRIFIED of developing PND again. For those that don't know me my ds is 2. I still suffer periodically from what I would describe as very low spells, but the first 18 months of his life was hell for me.

I only managed to breastfeed for 5 days then I developed an infection and ds wasn't latching on properly etc etc... and I gave up. I felt like a failure as I really wanted to breastfeed him.

Anyway... shortly after that I developed PND. So to cut a long sotry short, does anyone know if breastfeeding for the first 6 months would reduce the chance of me suffering PND again?

I thought maybe the hormones would be better balanced, or perhaps just not having the feeling of failing again may help.

Anyone have any experience, knowledge, thoughts on this? I'd really like to enjoy the first year of my next childs life as much as I'm enjoying ds now.

I don't really know much about this field but having had two children and breastfed both i would say that i feel very bonded with them but who's to say i wouldn't had i bottle fed. I don't know whether once you've had PND you're more susceptible to getting it again you'd need to ask a midwife or doctor but what i have read about PND is that tiredness can make it worse and in my experience (from talking to friends and having kids of my own) bottle fed babies seem to be able to go for longer spells between feeds which could mean more sleep for you. I never had PND but i do know others who have had it and breastfed, i think you just need to be on the look out for the similar feelings that you had previously and then seek help as soon as if you need to - don't suffer alone.

Thanks Telltubby. My Pnd didn't seem to affect my bonding with ds, but it made me very depressed and I couldn't really see anything funny, happy etc. Also, I seemed to develop agoraphobia which was horrible!

Unfortunately my HV has already told me I have a greatly increased risk of it happening again, which saddens and scares me.

The tiredness could be a huge factor. Even when I put ds onto bottles he fed avery 2 hours day and night for the first few weeks! I was a zomvie. He still doesn't sleep all night in his own bed.

Ooop.... I meant I was a zombie. LOL

not what you asked but apparantly baby massage helps - I would have thought that mummy massage would be better though!

From what I understand if you've had PND before then you are 50% more likely to get it with a subsequent birth then a mother who didn't have have it with a previous birth. I think that means it goes from 1 in 10 with actual PND to 1 in 5 if you've had it before. (I'm not counting 'Baby Blues' BTW, but when the depression is in need of treatment).

SO M2T it certainly isn't a given that you will go through it again.

Other than that I think that there is very little you can do to 'control' the psychological and physical factors. I think that the main thing you can do to minimise relapse are to make your social circumstances the best they can be. Get plenty of practical support so that you aren't run down. Being tired makes it harder to deal with emotions and changes. Maybe you DP could take more time of work than last time? Perhaps talk to your Doctor about starting a low dose of a AD that is safe for breastfeeding before symptoms set in.

If you do suffer again, take consolation in the fact that you will already 'know the enemy' you and those around you will be alot quicker to see the symptoms returning and hopefully this will mean you get the help and recovery you need quicker than last time round.

HTH {{{hugs{}}}}

Thanks folks.

I really want another baby, and I know I'll be more prepared this time. Alot pf factors 'contributed' to my PND (I think!!). I tore badly, so was very sore for weeks afterwards, I failed at breastfeeding, ds didn't sleep much and my entire family (including my Mum) were in Ibiza when ds was born.

I could go on blaming loads of things, but in reality noone really knows what triggers it , do they?? I thought it was a hormonal imbalance?? Dunno.

Anyway, thanks for your input people.

Pie - my GOD, 1 in 10 mums suffer from PND!!?? Wow. Didn't know it was that many.

Hi M2T. I breast feed dd until 14weeks when unfortunatley my maternity leave ran out and I had to go back and basically my breasts gave up the ghost . I had PND which remained undiagnosed until dd was almost 2 and it is "one" of my concerns that when little one is born I might get it again. Like you I've searched for reasons as to why I got it in the first place and I suspect it was a multitude but amoungst them was bf. I found bf extremely hard and struggled for 12weeks, only settling down and actually enjoying for the last 2. I felt a failure and pushed myself too hard and gave myself far too many goals that my image of a good mother should achieve. In retrospect I think it would have been a better idea for me to have given up earlier and just got on with the job of enjoying being a mother and enjoying my baby. Like I said I don't think this was the only factor - it was one of many but all of them based on me pushing myself too hard to be "perfect". This time round I hope I can relax and simply enjoy little one's company. Unfortunately during the last two weeks of feeding dd I grew to love it and already have set myself up to bf whereas in reality I should probably give it a go and if it doesn't work let it go. Luckily I've had a very good chat with my local hv about this and I know that she will keep an eye on me and has already told me that if she thinks its not working she will recommend the bottle. Breast is undoubtedly the best but only when it works for both mum and baby. I got myself into a complete mess about breast feeding, one I hope not to do again.

I'm hoping that this will show you that even though I bf it did not prevent my PND. I personally would not agree that bf stops PND but it was a wonderful experience and I think if you can do it then you should always try. If it doesn't work though (although try to give it 1 to 2 weeks cos bloody hell does it hurt!) don't beat yourself up!

Speaking to a mw recently she felt that mum needs not to be tired either pre-birth or post birth. She felt that resting and lots of sleep were good contributors to preventing PND. So I'm trying not to give myself high ideals and I'm trying to put together a support system that will help me once little one is born to get sleep and look after two children as well as myself. I'll let you know whether or not it works.

I know what you mean about enjoying your baby. Like you I hope to enjoy this little ones life from the start as much as I enjoy my dds company now. My friends all talk about loosing time just staring at their babys - I never did this, she scared me too much. Its a big regret but not one I think I could have prevented that time round. Fingers crossed for this one. DD is now 3 and I regularly find myself simply sitting and watching her - its now one of my greatest joys.

Wills - How beautifully put! And it totally sums it up. I will be very keen to find out how you get on and I hope it is much better this time. I didn't seek help for my PND until ds was 18 mths old. I knew there was something wrong, but avoided the HV like the plague! Stupid I know.

This time at least if it happens again (GOD FORBID!) then you and I will both seek help and guidance withing the first few weeks. So that we can enjoy every moment.

I 2nd the staring at them comment. Arent they just thee best entertainment ever?!

agree _ i had the same with ds1 and I ws doing too much and I was knackered.

Now with ds3 I only felt tired for the first week because I let everyone else do the work and I calmly floated around,

Lazy C*w.

even as they relayed the floor in the new conserv. for the 30th time I just didnt care...

Is your surname Royle? Is the baby called Baby David?

M2T. I knew I needed help when I started planning to leave - everyone that is, just run away. Went to the doctor rather than the HV, when the hv found out (at dd's 2 year check up) she was mortified - bless her. Its a very confusing feeling, when its described to someone whos had it you can recognise it straightaway but when you've never had it you just don't know.

codswallop - if you read any posts that suggests I'm working you have my full permission to have a go !

are you Pg Wills?

36 weeks and having a little bit of a rough ending, wanted a homebirth but that's not going to happen - shame but never mind.

Wills - that's exactly what I did. In fact, even when the HV found out via the GP I avoided her calls. Let the ansafone get them. Then at ds's 22 mth assessment in April this year I finally spoke to her. She kept apologising to me for not spotting it!

Personally I don't see how she could have spotted it. There was absolutely no way I would have opened up to a stranger especially one that was a little bit of a breast feeding devotee.

its loads bettr - just remmeber its all a phase!

M2t if you can afford a maternity nurse they are a great thing - help with breastfeeding, make you rest, make you eat, take the baby and settle it in the middle of the night when you are just DYING to go to sleep and can't face trying to wind it for a single second more, provide you with sensible, unjudgmental support whatever you decide to do re feeding, sleeping etc etc.
They also free you up a bit to spend more time with your elder child and help them feel less pushed to one side.
They are INCREDIBLY expensive, but if I'd had PND before, I'd save up like crazy to have one if I possibly could - even if only for a couple of weeks. I know with my second, before the mat nurse came I couldn't believe how much she was costing - once she was there I would have willingly paid her twice as much as her rate! Such a difference compared to after my first, where I had no help (my mother did what she could, but worked full time so not ideal really), was in agonies over breastfeeding for weeks, completely knackered and weepy for ages (but not clinically depressed, thank goodness).

Just a thought.

PPH - lovely thought, but I have HUUUGE financial committments at the mo. With this new job we have the luxury of sorting those out, but any spare cash will go toward our wedding and credit card bill! A loan would be lovely tough... I know you're good for it! Think of it as a wedding pressie.

oh god, I forgot about the wedding! maybe you could ask for contributions to your maternity nurse fund instead of wedding presents?!! or maybe not....

LOL, now that would be different!

bedtime for me I think.... sleep well M2T!

You too PPH... not long now til No. 3 arrives.

There is a consultant in London who recommends progesterone immediately post natally (injection or suppository - can't remember) and breastfeeding to reduce risk od PND occurring again. Perhaps someone out there recognises this treatment. I will have a search tomorrow for more info.