Comments on: Support for Breastfeeding Can Make All The Difference

By: An Argument For Eating Your Placenta | Breastfeeding Moms Unite

An Argument For Eating Your Placenta | Breastfeeding Moms Unite — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:02:45 +0000

[...] read some personal stories from my Mental Health and Breastfeeding series, go here to read Ruth’s story, here to read Arwyn’s story and here to read Jennifer’s [...]

By: Lauren @ HoboMama

Lauren @ HoboMama — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:01:27 +0000

I’m finally catching up on my reading, and goodness, Ruth, “appalling,” as Diane says, is right. How beyond unhelpful were all those health visitors and midwives who were whispering at you just to give up. Even if they couldn’t give you the breastfeeding help you needed because of their own failures, they should have tried to point you in the right direction. And it’s so sad that you had to lie about your depression to avoid having your breastfeeding further sabotaged. I’m glad that Dave posted to say that there are ways to combine the two safely. I’m sad about the way your ex treated you as well. I know in those early days I wouldn’t have made it through without Sam being supportive. If he had wavered and told me to give up, well…it would have been really tough. Good on you for sticking it out and finding your way!
Lauren @ HoboMama´s last blog ..Trailer for Formula Fed America and a call to lactivism

By: Dave Hambidge

Dave Hambidge — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:44:46 +0000

I hope that men are welcome here. Crashed in from Yorks and Beans via Barely Knit Together.

Thankyou for such openness about a really difficult problem. As a shrink I used to get exasperated with other medics who used a blanket NO to antidepressants and breast feeding. It can easily be done, combining the two, with a bit of care and commonsense.

Keep pushing the word out, it might just help many.

gave
Dave Hambidge´s last blog ..MERWYN 410AD

By: Cave Mother

Cave Mother — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:59:15 +0000

Great post, and I will check out the blog links too.
Cave Mother´s last blog ..Difficult Babies and How To Cope With Them

By: Melodie

Melodie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:54:34 +0000

Something I wanted to comment on when I posted this was how struck I am by how large a role the simple kindness of people can play in one’s mental health. Not only was the midwife who helped you supportive, but she appears to go above and beyond what other’s weren’t. Was this due to her super helpful personality, her rigorous training, her creative thinking, her firm belief in breastfeeding – all of the above? Either way, it goes to show what certain professionals are capable of and the huge role they can play in making a difference in someone’s life. Someone like this makes the rest of the breastfeeding support systems you tried pale in comparison.
I believe that first and foremost health care professionals need to be kind, need to be empathic, need to put a new mom’s needs before bureaucracy, need to look outside the medical model for solutions. I am so glad you found that woman. You’re right. If only there were someone like her there to help you from the very beginning…
Melodie´s last blog ..Support for Breastfeeding Can Make All The Difference

By: Pippa

Pippa — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:34:25 +0000

I breast feed “wrong” as I too have big boobs. I am so glad that you managed to get support in the end, and I hope that this post (which is a great post btw) will allow others to know there is light at the end of that long dark tunnel.
Pippa´s last blog ..Frugal Christmas Entertainment

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:05:31 +0000

My first daughter was born early, and removed to the Special Care Nursery within minutes of her birth. Her first feed was formula from a bottle, although it wasn’t documented for me. The main difference in our stories is that while I also suffered breastfeeding difficulties, I was able to find support. And you’re right – it did make all the difference. Honestly, it wasn’t even that I received concrete help so much as support. I’m truly sorry that you didn’t receive that.

I completely agree with you, fixing the breastfeeding, or at least supporting the mother in her wishes, should be the first step. It’s a travesty that it usually isn’t.
Amber´s last blog ..Never Again