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Breast pumping and antidepressants

You prepare for months, reading, studying and planning for the new baby who will soon share your life. Just a few days before that sweet baby comes into your life, you can feel that you are ready and that you know how to be a great mother. But what happens after you bring that adorable package home? Do you really know what to do? You read and study for months, but does it really prepare you for what you are about to experience?

You start to feel doubt, your body is changing physically and emotionally, chemicals are flowing that you didn’t even know you had. Why didn’t anyone prepare you for what you are experiencing these first few weeks?

Many moms get ready and feel like they are ready to be the best mom, but once you get home, things don’t feel comfortable or happy. Some moms begin to feel sad and depressed, not understanding why depression begins to occur at a time that is supposed to be so hopeful and exciting. Postpartum depression is starting to set in and you don’t know what to do.

One of the most important things to do before your baby is born is to listen to all of your feelings. Most moms who experience postpartum depression begin to feel it before the baby is born. They have fleeting moments of sadness for no particular reason. Moms should talk to their OB/GYN about this as soon as possible.

Some doctors will determine that it would be a good idea for the mom to start taking antidepressants during the third trimester, if the baby seems healthy, and especially if the mom has had any experience with depression in the past. Some mothers-to-be may be very concerned about this. What if the medicine affects my baby while she’s still growing in the womb, plus moms can’t even take aspirin? Also, how does this affect my breast milk?

Well, there have been some studies on taking antidepressants during pregnancy and while nursing your baby. Of course, there are some small risks associated with it, but many doctors take the position that the small risks associated with taking the drug far outweigh the risks of postpartum depression. Zoloft is believed by most to be one of the least problematic antidepressants of all the others.

In addition to looking for postpartum signs during pregnancy, moms should also be aware of their emotions after the baby is born, especially during the first week. Although moms may find themselves crying alone in the bathroom, they may feel ashamed that motherhood doesn’t come as easily as they thought or as easy as other moms claim it to be. It is very important that moms do not hide these feelings from family and friends. Once a mom starts experiencing those little sad moments, she should immediately tell someone, especially a close friend who is also a mom, or talk to her doctor.

Also, with all the new responsibilities that mothers take on once the baby is born, this sometimes causes great concern for the new mom. This may be the first time a new mom has had full and complete responsibility for someone else, and this can be a very daunting experience. Everything from making sure baby is changed regularly to feeding every 2-3 hours can consume it all on the new mom’s mind.

A very important and profound topic during pregnancy and after childbirth is the choice of how to feed the baby. There is a great defense of breastfeeding, for many good reasons. However, this is something extra to think about at a time when everything can seem overwhelming. For many mothers, putting the baby to the breast is a very comforting and natural experience for them, but for many others it is a great frustration with problems ranging from latching on to worrying about how much the baby has consumed. If the frustration begins to rise to a point of concern, such as anger at the baby, then other feeding options should be considered at this point.

However, a comforting thought is that you can still provide that wonderful and special breastmilk for your baby without putting the baby to the breast. Expressing breast milk can be a wonderful alternative to bringing your baby to the breast. For moms who worry endlessly about how much breastmilk their baby is consuming, pumping can be a good option so moms can really see what their baby is consuming. Plus, pumping can allow mom to get those extra few hours of sleep that will definitely help minimize some of the depression experienced from lack of sleep.

The most important thing to remember about postpartum depression is to let others—spouse, friends, doctors, and counselors—know what you’re feeling and accept whatever help and support is offered.

Copyright 2006, Wendy Williamson

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