Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Flip

Original poster

Breastfeeding whilst suffering from postnatal depression

16 replies

melzie · 14/10/2007 21:06

Is it possible to breasfeed when you have postnatal depression? Does it depend on whether or not you are on anti-depressants? I have been asked this question in a course I am doing and Im unsure!

OP posts:

Elasticwoman · 14/10/2007 21:12

Breastfeeding releases a "sleep" hormone which helps the mother sleep better after a feed, so if the depression includes insomnia, bf has that advantage.

Some anti-depressants are not good to take while breastfeeding but I don't think all are contra-indicated so it would be something to discuss with the doctor at the time of prescription.

IamDaisy · 14/10/2007 21:13

from my own experience, I have PND, and am still exclusivelyBFing my DD at nearly 19 weeks. I take an AD called setraline which gets through into your milk in very low doses and was advised by my consultant psychiatrist that it was the safest one out there.

I am fortunate in that I was diagnosed wiht depression when I was still pregnant so have had the support systems in place since before my DD was born. When I had my DS five years ago I wasn't diagnosed till DS was 7.5 months. I was on my own as well as my DP and I were estranged at the time, an only lasted about 5.5 weeks with the BF as I couldn't cope with the usual early BFing difficulties on my own at five am when I was exhausted sore and sleep deprived.

so, I suppose it depends on several factors:

1 the severity of the depression
2 how soon it has been diagnosed
3 what support mechanisms are in place.

HTH x

notnowbernard · 14/10/2007 21:14

Some ADs shouldn't be taken if pg or bf. Others are safe. It's something to be discussed with Dr at time of prescribing.

IdrisTheDragon · 14/10/2007 21:15

I was suffering from depression while pregnant with DD and all the time I breastfed her.

I was taking sertraline, and both DD and I were fine. I am sure that many people with PND do breastfeed.

pobletsmum · 14/10/2007 21:16

Yes, it is possible. However, when suffering with PND I would imagine that some mothers might find the closeness and baby's dependence on the mother difficult? Not really sure...

GPs are willing to prescribe certain antidepressants for use whilst breastfeeding, often the older types of medications.

CantSleepWontSleep · 14/10/2007 21:16

Ah that's the one I was trying to think of the name of Idris. I think that's what QV took, and she breastfed whilst on it until 18 months or more.

notnowbernard · 14/10/2007 21:17

On the other hand, they might find the closeness of bf the very thing that 'keeps them going'?

I've heard of this happening.

skerriesmum · 14/10/2007 21:21

A friend of mine had PND and when she stopped nursing she felt so much better. She thought the hormones released during breastfeeding made her more depressed.

fishie · 14/10/2007 21:25

what is your course melzie? may be better to check with nct or similar organisation rather than mumsnet posters.

glaskham · 14/10/2007 21:27

i suffered post-natal depression and was given special anti-depressants that didn't affect my milk....

Original poster

melzie · 14/10/2007 21:42

Im training to be a Doula! I have been a nanny for 18 years and have just had my own baby 10 months ago! I wanted to use my experience with babies and now birth to help other mums who maybe dont have any support. There have been a few questions that have come up that Im not familiar with or havent come accross over the years. I wanted to ask other mums that have the experience rather than get all the medical terms. They say mum know's best! x

OP posts:

gigglewitch · 14/10/2007 21:45

ditto daisy! i still have pnd and b-fed for 19months, took sertraline 100mg from soon after DD's birth.

SheRa · 14/10/2007 21:51

I had PND and was prescribed AD's which wouldn't affect milk. BF helped me enormously TBH as it felt like the only thing I was getting right at the time.

gigglewitch · 14/10/2007 21:55

At first someone tried to tell me to give up bf because they thought any med & bf were incompatible, they just had to do their homework. bf-ing helped me hugely, as SheRa says the only thing that i thought i could do properly

weepotion · 14/10/2007 21:59

i have pnd, not currently taking meds. i know that there are some which are ok with bf but i decided to wait. tbh - i think bf has helped me to bond with her and feel that i am doing something ok.i getanxious about other things. i attend outpatients for pnd - all have been v supportive and also v encouraging about bf.

IamDaisy · 14/10/2007 22:09

there seems to be a bit of misinformation out there though, as my GP prescribed fluoxetine when I was PG and told me it would be OK for BFing. When I was on the PN ward, they told me it was a no-no and prescribed me something else whose name escapes me. I was told to stop the fluoxetine for a week before starting on the next ones. The first day of those co-incided with my appointment with the neo-natal unit at the psych hospital and they said the alternative to fluoxetine was a no no as well and gave me the sertraline.

I still have some very anxious moments though, but they won't increase my dose (I'm on 50mg daily at the moment)

I've had a few BFing difficulties but I agree that as it is generally going well (well it has for the last three weeks) it gives me something positive to focus on.

Not sure about the feel good hormones etc, as some of my more anxious moments have been when I've been feeding

Flip