I feel that postnatal depression can be linked to the way in which midwives treat their patients. This is due to the way in which they push and push at new mothers to breast feed their child and when the baby does not take to the breast well or it causes discomfort for the mothers, midwives still push at it even though this often makes new mum's feel like they are worthless and unable to feed and look after their child properly.
What do you think about that accusation?
Post-natal depression and midwives linked?
ya it is very unfair
Reply:No offence if a midwife did that to me i would tell her to go to one!!!! I have formula fed my babies (because i chose to) and formula is just as good as breastmilk. My children thrived on it, yes midwifes do look down on you but if this is how you want to feed your child you do what makes your comfortable. As for breastfeeding i hear it can be difficult and upsetting if the baby cant latch on but no midwife should say you must do it tthis way and not that way!!! they should be a source of information not demand how and when to feed your baby only the mother and baby knows that. I suffered from post natal depression with my last baby and it had nothing to do with feeding my baby. As i am a stubborn mule when my mind is made up there is no shifting me
Reply:Nah, not related. PPD is caused by all the hormonal mess a woman has to go through during pregnancy, labor and postpartum, end of story.
The rest are minor discomforts that you take home and have to deal with them somehow.
Breastfeeding minimizes the risk for postpartum depression btw.
Reply:Well, I have postpartum depression, did not have a midwife and was not pressured by anyone but myself to breastfeed. So what's my problem?
Reply:Breastfeeding is hard, sometimes it takes a little tough love to get someone through it. Midwives understand the difference between tough love and bullying and I honestly don't think too many cross the line, your particular example may be an exception but it's hard to say without knowing the people involved. I honestly don't think there is any link beween this and PPD. If you wanted to broaden it out, I do believe there is a link between a poor postnatal support system (spouse, family, medical staff, etc) and depression but it takes those swinging hormones to get everything started.
Reply:I think that's bologna.
Parenting is all about sacrifice. As the woman above me said, less than 5% of mothers can't breastfeed. That means the others CHOOSE not to. And honestly, if you choose a midwife, you know what you're getting into. You know how they feel about nursing and un-medicated labor, so you have no one but yourself to blame. The world would be a better place if more mothers would breastfeed.
Reply:Read up on prolactin. NOT breastfeeding is a good way to end up with post-natal depression.
If Mum is in pain from nursing, Mum is not getting good guidance from the midwife, though.
"Postpartum women with current depression (EPDS %26gt; 11) had significantly lower plasma prolactin levels than those without depression and those who developed depression within 6 10 weeks after delivery (PSE level %26gt; 5) had significantly lower plasma prolactin and significantly greater progesterone levels than those who were not depressed. There were significant correlations between age and plasma cortisol and prolactin levels. Higher thyroxine levels predicted greater severity of concurrent symptoms of depression (total EPDS score) whilst higher progesterone and lower prolactin levels predicted the occurrence of depression (total PSE score) 6 10 weeks after delivery. Women who breastfed had significantly lower EPDS and total PSE scores and higher plasma prolactin levels than those who did not breastfed their infants..."
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN%26amp;cp...
Reply:I ended up with PPD, not because of a nurse of midwife pushing me to breastfeed though. My son was born with spina bifida, and I had to have a c-section with him. They whisked him away from me barely letting me see what my own baby looked like. He had to have surgery the next morning, so I wasn't allowed to see him until the anesthetic wore off. After that, I was allowed to visit him all I wanted, but I couldn't hold him until he was 10 days old. I pumped my milk and gave it to him through a bottle until I was able to hold him and actually breastfeed him. I was an absolute wreck in the hospital and in my sons first two months. After my son and I got into the groove of breastfeeding, my PPD was gone. I never had to take medicine for it or anything.
Reply:My midwife never once mentioned breastfeeding to me whilst I was pregnant, nor when she asked if I had any initial discomfort and I told her yes did she push me to continue. I did it because I wanted to, I was never pushed and didnt feel much emphasis at all was put on it. I think Sarah above is exactly right. And what mothers with PPD who DO breastfeed?? Far too simplistic an explanation for a complex illness.
Reply:I think your accusation is a bit much. Take responsibility for yourself and your own decision. (By 'you' I mean anyone.) Your midwife is looking out for you, and what's best for your baby- to breastfeed. Countless studies have shown this, it's undebatable. Less than 5% of women cannot breastfeed. Every woman encounters trouble breastfeeding, with every child. But you work through it, for the sake of your child. Formula was meant for babies whose moms CANNOT breastfeed, not as a subsitute for those who aren't willing to put in the effort.
No one can 'make you feel worthless' for not breastfeeding, or for choosing to breastfeed. If you honestly cannot, then you deal with that, and move on. The 'feeling worthless' comes from knowing that you can, and you just aren't willing to work at it- you feel bad that you're unwilling to do that for your innocent baby who deserves it. When nurses, midwives, etc. are showing women how to breastfeed, it can feel pushy. No-one (that I know of) is used to having their breasts handled this way. But it goes back to 'that's what they're made for' and that still, both mom and baby have to learn this skill- often there is no other way than handling your breasts. It's just easier than saying- put it like this, or like that... but I do honestly believe they usually mean well, and don't want to allow you an easy way out.
But to say this handling can cause PPD is taking it too far. PPD is much more serious than something that can be caused by any outside influence, much less than one like this.
**Then your cousin is the one that needed to make the decision to either stick with it for the sake of her child, or to deal with the realization that she was unwilling. It's not anyone's 'fault' but her own. At the stage where these nurses/midwives are helping, most women only have colostrum. It does feel like the baby isn't getting enough, if you don't know better. There isn't a lot there, but what is there is LIQUID GOLD- it's honestly the most important feedings of your babies' entire life. Look into it, and you'll see. You have colostrum from just after birth until up to 5-7 days! So you can go through several days of hard work, and constant feeding to get your baby colostrum, (and then your milk comes in, and it gets hard all over again). It's not "Oh, I tried a time or two, and it's not working." So these women know that, and they strongly encourage you to give that to your baby, as well as try to teach you how to continue to breastfeed- that's their jobs as caretakers of you and baby, and that's what women are supposed to do- breastfeed.
It would be backwards for them to just throw up their hands and teach you how to use formula- that's for women who can't, so don't expect them to do that just because it gets a bit tough. You don't go to Taco Bell %26amp; try to get a hamburger, then rant about how they wouldn't give you a hamburger, right? They make tacos there.
***I know I've already typed a novel, but I wanted to add one more thing- you mentioned that midwives 'push and push when the baby does not take to the breast well or it causes discomfort for the mothers'... that thinking really gets to me. For thousands of years, women have breastfed. I'm sure most of those women have gone though similar issues with breastfeeding that I have. But they didn't get to give up, so why should I be able to just because some guy came up with a canned substitute that was designed to not let my baby die? I can't imagine offering that to my child when I know I have something much better. I have three times now been sobbing my eyes out as my milk came in, my boobs the size of rock hard softballs, having had no sleep, bleeding with stiches, etc., etc., etc. and yet still to this day, neither of my babies (I now have two) have tasted formula- because it's just not right for us. Because they are worth it. Because I am able and willing to provide breastmilk for them as nature and God intended it. It sounds a bit dramatic, but hey- my babies are nothing to take lightly. I put up with a lot so that they get what's best. You do go through some pain- welcome to motherhood- it's only the beginning. Your mention of 'discomfort' just sickens me, as this seems to be the way more an more women are thinking- that you don't need to go through 'discomfort'- just grab a can of formula. Or 'my baby isn't taking well to the breast', so let's just grab a can of formula. Not many babies take well to the breast, and especially not the entire time. My daughter 'took to the breast' very naturally, she's actually the one who taght ME how to breastfeed- for a few days. Then we got home and the real work started. But I NEVER gave up. I fed her. That's what we're supposed to do. The thought of you and your cousin (or any of the many women who do this) sitting around out there blaming their breastfeeding troubles on their midwives/nurses is just really upsetting to me- take the responsibity on yourself, that's where it goes. Maybe it's nature's way of giving us a big heads up and saying "Hey! Motherhood is not easy, but jump in"- Mama Bootcamp or something...
K, I'm done now. ;o)
Reply:This may be the case with some but I don't think there is any definitive research to point towards midwives. There are still plenty of women who see MD's who get PPD.
I think there are also lots of different types of midwives. The midwives at the hospital where I work and where I am cared for are very supportive of either decision . They are hospital based and also realize that every mom has her own battles and it's their job to help her in that.
I hope this helps.
Reply:sounds like a good possibility. being a new mother is difficult enough w/ones own fears and pressures to do everything right. i could imagine the stress of someone else "on my back" about it.
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