FRom Adrienne and More on breastfeeding and PPD

[Guest guest]

Greetings Dearest Martha,

This is from the local PPD Support Organization--Helena is a

wonderful woman but is heavily influenced by the medical model. She

is definitely still healing from the loss of her own daughter to

PPD. (as is the leader of the local ICAN chapter majorly identified

with her own birth trauma to the point where her email is a

label: " cesareanmom " . I certainly respect a person's unique healing

timeline. However, if you keep tugging on the scab the wound never

heals. But I digress....) Seems they can't get beyond putting women

on drugs and sending 'em (away from their homes and possibly babies)

to counseling. Sigh. I am glad she and her group are doing this

work yet I can't help but twinge at some of the information.......she

hasn't caught on to the global picture that women who birth in

gentle, empowering ways and receive ample postpartum support (as we

know how) are much less likely to be depressed. Replacing a hormone

& fatigue-induced stupor with a drug-addled haze??? Hmmm.

 

I am growing rounder and feeling taut & stretchy. SO fun to feel

this babe moving--wow. Have been experiencing many emotional ups and

downs, leaning on girlfriends during the downs and letting it all

release. Did I mention I have been invited to apprentice with a

midwife? Certainly things are changing and I finally feel like an

integral part of the birth community here. And so my letting go of

the health food store scene and transitioning into motherhood will be

accompanied by taking the next step on this path. Slowly. You know

where I'll be for 6 weeks in February/March: at home!

 

Bright Blessings for some sunny dry weather!

LOVE,

Adrienne

 

BuzerHel

BuzerHel

Friday, August 20, 2004 8:28 PM

More on breastfeeding and PPD

 

Hey, Everybody

 

I received this excellent article from Karen Kleiman (author of " This

Isn't What I Expected " and " The Postpartum Husband " ) several days ago

and have her permission to share it with all of you. She has an

incredible talent for right-on-target descriptions!

 

I am saving this to share with the women who contact me who are

experiencing breastfeeding issues. You may want to do the same.

 

Helena Bradford

 

Is Breast Always Best?

Karen Kleiman, MSW

 

The message is all around us, breast is best. Human milk is superior

for infant feeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that

exclusive breastfeeding is the ideal nutrition for every infant.

 

I'm a strong breastfeeding advocate. I breastfed both my children.

Although my intentions were to breastfeed each until one year of age,

in both cases, I had medical circumstances that forced me to stop

breastfeeding against my wishes. It was worse with my second, when I

had to stop at two months postpartum, with the realization that she

would be my last child. The loss was devastating, though I knew there

were few people I could talk to about this because, well, who could

relate, other than perhaps another breastfeeding mother? I understand

the indescribable commitment to a relationship that is not easily

understood by women who have never breastfed. I am familiar with the

unique properties of this attachment as well as the feelings of loss

when this balance is disrupted.

 

So I pause and think hard about this. About the pressure to

breastfeed. And I wonder where it all comes from. The pressures are

monumental. They come from society, they come from our friends, our

mothers, our doctors and nurses, our husbands, but most of all, they

come from deep within ourselves. We hear it all the time:

Breastfeeding is natural. It's least expensive, it's convenient, it's

healthiest, it initiates a bond between mother and baby that is

unmatched by other feeding options and so forth. I certainly would

not dispute the truth of these statements, even now. I used to think

these declarations were important. Now, I think they're potentially

dangerous.

 

In our attempt to educate, promote optimal health and support the

breastfeeding mother, we have let a vulnerable group of women fall

through the cracks. For the 20-30% of postpartum women who struggle

with postpartum depression, the situation can be critical. Because of

their illness, this is what they hear:

 

If you choose not to breastfeed¦ you're not a good mother.

 

If you have difficulties breastfeeding¦ you are doing something

wrong.

 

If you don't enjoy breastfeeding¦ your maternal instincts are

impaired in some way.

 

If the breastfeeding relationship does not go along smoothly¦ you are

unable to do what comes naturally to all other women.

 

If you quit breastfeeding¦you will continue to fail as a mother.

 

The feelings attached to these statements may be obvious at first

glance, but the extent to which they impact a woman is unimaginable

to anyone who has not experienced a major depression after

childbirth. The profound feelings of guilt, shame, inadequacy, fear,

insecurity, abandonment, failure, and despair can immobilize the

mother and prevent her from taking steps toward recovery.

 

Depressed women do not think clearly. They get lost in the battle

against their own distorted thoughts, misguiding them toward a

decision they cannot adequately make. Depression will rob a woman of

her ability to make informed decisions because confusion and lack of

clarity predominate. Things that were previously black and white, now

appear blurry. Issues that are usually vague and open to compromise,

become rigid and inflexible. What might be evident to a non-depressed

person, may be incomprehensible to someone preoccupied with faulty

beliefs.

 

Those of us who consider ourselves enthusiastic supporters of

breastfeeding have an obligation to examine this carefully. Because

we are the ones that are in a position to help mothers best

understand their options. It must come from us. Because when

opposition to breastfeeding is offered by individuals who do not

possess a passion for this relationship, it will be dismissed as

uncaring advice and likely to fall upon deaf ears. If, on the other

hand, this message comes from those of us who have fought hard to

protect the intrinsic value of this connection, I think women will

listen.

 

What should this new message be? It's okay not to breastfeed.

 

It's that simple.

 

It doesn't matter who we are in relation to this woman. We might be

her friend or her counselor. We might be her sister or her doctor. If

this woman is suffering with postpartum depression and breastfeeding,

we might have to help her through this process by explaining her

options, by telling her there are medications that are compatible

with breastfeeding, or by giving her permission to stop. That option

doesn't feel good to a depressed mother. It feels like someone is

yanking the anchor from the very last thing that is keeping her

afloat. It feels terrifying and incapacitating. It feels absolutely

impossible and nothing short of catastrophic.

 

This is because breastfeeding, to the depressed mother, is more than

breastfeeding. It is a lifeline. It's as if it provides the single

opportunity for her to feel that her presence is making a difference.

This is why we need to help her navigate the rough waters and make

the right decision, particularly if she needs medication. It may be

to continue breastfeeding. It may be to stop. Either way, she may not

be able to make this decision without the clarity of an outside

perspective.

 

This process is complicated and raises important questions:

 

Does she need medication?

 

How does she feel about taking medication while breastfeeding

 

Is it possible that breastfeeding may somehow contribute to her

feelings of despair?

 

Is breastfeeding depleting her of her strength and energy, thereby

worsen her illness? Is her insistence on breastfeeding interfering

with her treatment?

 

Does she have proper guidance to wean sufficiently so as not to

aggravate the delicate hormonal balance?

 

Does she have enough information and support to discontinue the

breastfeeding relationship, should it come to that?

 

These are considerations that I dare say have been largely ignored by

breastfeeding organizations and the medical community. And frankly,

I'm afraid for the women who continue to work so hard, with

painstaking determination, against such formidable odds, to stay on

track, to prove something to someone. I'm not sure what they are

trying to prove, exactly. Perhaps they strive to meet their own self-

driven, impassioned expectations. To follow the rules they've always

believed in. To do it right. To be the best mother they can be.

 

It's time we let them off the hook. So they can rest easy. So they

can learn that good mothers, indeed, have lots of choices. So they

can get the treatment they need. So they can get better.

 

Editorial by Karen Kleiman, MSW, Founder and Clinical Director of The

Postpartum Stress Center in Rosemont, PA.She is author of “This

Postpartum Husband: Practical Solutions for Living with Postpartum

Depression and co-author of " This Isn't What I Expected. Overcoming

Postpartum Depression. "

 

For more information call 610.525.7527

www.postpartum.com

 

Helena M. Bradford, Chm

The Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation

for Postpartum Depression Awareness

1339 Outreach Lane

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

843 881-2047

Website: http://www.ppdsupport.org/

 

Sometimes God calms the storm;

other times He lets the storm rage and calms His child.

 

Dear Adrienne;

I'm posting this for sisters to read, assuming you don't mind, as it

is certainly relevant. Started to say deligted to hear from you,

which I always am yes but sigh, the PPD stories are heavy weight.

ANy of my students wanting extra credit/honors for writing the

ayurvedic good news to some of these folks, go for it. You can send

it by me first and I'll happily tweak anything for extra punch

 

If I may suggest you tune into the work and resources of Dr. Ann

Blake Tracy at www.drugawareness.org ... she knows nothing about

ayurveda yet, but is the expert usually called upon in court cases

around use of the class of meds called SSRIs. And has discovered

certain nutritional supports and therapeutic essential oils as major

allies. She is a very key player in the increasing warnings,

restrictions, senate hearings and other awareness growth about the

serious risks with their use. It is not jsut that the meds are a sad

second Indicating mistrust of Mother Nature and her options, but the

risks are big time. AS ARE THE RISKS OF COMMING OFF THEM TOO FAST,

and the docs/many natural practitioners don't realize the extent of

it.

 

WE never got to that class yet, will teach it this fall for my two

students here along with perinatal uses of essential oils, case

studies, and perhaps other stuff on request. If you Carolina ladies

will give me some dates, I'll commit to doing the last 2 - 4 days

classes in the training. WE can probably all camp here, cooking and

enjoying laying hands on your stretching belly? If John would let

you come...

 

Watch weather reports also up there for the new tropical storm just

forming off Carolina coast. According to earthchangestv.com due to

increase in M class solar flares, we may many more be in for a wild

ride. That one getting dragged by Ivan as he comes north. Y'all in

Asheville, hope you weather it ok.

Love, Martha