Breastfeeding and Depression--Does it Help?
Great discussion on Facebook after I posted yesterday morning's blog post. Does breastfeeding help or prevent post partum depression?
Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, psychologist and IBCLC, has studied this issue for years. Kathleen points out that inflammation contributes to depression and can be triggered by stress, whether it is physical or emotional. Pregnancy raises your levels of inflammation so you are automatically at a higher risk of depression at the end of the pregnancy and in the following weeks after delivery.
"Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce stress and
protect maternal mood--when it's going well."
You can read her entire article and more on
Best Thinking.
Many mothers experience some or all of the following symptoms. If they do not get better or they worsen, please seek help:
- Anger or resentment towards those you love, including your baby
- Anxious thoughts
- Crying or weeping several times a day
- Exhaustion
- Feelings of guilt
- Feelings of shame
- Isolation
- Loneliness
- Sadness
You need to seek help as soon as possible, if you are experiencing these more serious symptoms.
How do you feel that breastfeeding helped you adjust to motherhood?
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