PPD

Well done for getting for 5 weeks, it is incredibly hard, I got to 10 days and was on the verge of a breakdown. I spoke to the midwife and we decided a mentally healthy mum was what baby needed most and fed is best. The guilt is real, there’s a lot of pressure on women to be breastfeeding, but when it’s affecting your mental health it’s a wake up call that we can’t give our best if we aren’t feeling strong and rested ourselves. Also when we’re sleep deprived like this it’s easy for everything to feel catastrophic x

I would definitely speak with a doctor about how you’re feeling as they’ll be able to help and point you in the right direction or possibly start some medication for you just to help with how you’re feeling.

As for going out even going for a walk down the road or out to the shops to get a bit of shopping done definitely can help.

It is hard when they are so little and won’t go to anyone other than you x

Prolactin the breast feeding hormone can def make you super anxious! It sounds unsustainable at the moment.
I chose to take an antidepressant which works really well and continue breast feeding, and that worked really well for us. Very little passes to the baby whereas if you are stressed they are stressed too.
Talk to your doctor and work out what you want to do. Pumping won’t make a whole lot of difference.
I agree going out is a good idea. Just strap the baby in a carrier and do a very short walk. They complain so much going in - but by the end of our street mine was asleep or happily watching the world go by. The library or a coffee shop even just the local shop and back. It’s so important for mental health to achieve a little outing and get some fresh air and steps 🙂

Prolactin the breast feeding hormone can def make you super anxious! It sounds unsustainable at the moment.
I chose to take an antidepressant which works really well and continue breast feeding, and that worked really well for us. Very little passes to the baby whereas if you are stressed they are stressed too.
Talk to your doctor and work out what you want to do. Pumping won’t make a whole lot of difference.
I agree going out is a good idea. Just strap the baby in a carrier and do a very short walk. They complain so much going in - but by the end of our street mine was asleep or happily watching the world go by. The library or a coffee shop even just the local shop and back. It’s so important for mental health to achieve a little outing and get some fresh air and steps 🙂

Prolactin the breast feeding hormone can def make you super anxious! It sounds unsustainable at the moment.
I chose to take an antidepressant which works really well and continue breast feeding, and that worked really well for us. Very little passes to the baby whereas if you are stressed they are stressed too.
Talk to your doctor and work out what you want to do. Pumping won’t make a whole lot of difference.
I agree going out is a good idea. Just strap the baby in a carrier and do a very short walk. They complain so much going in - but by the end of our street mine was asleep or happily watching the world go by. The library or a coffee shop even just the local shop and back. It’s so important for mental health to achieve a little outing and get some fresh air and steps 🙂

here if you want someone to talk to

Wish I lived closer to you as I'd go for a walk or coffee with you. I'm breastfeeding but also pumping and bottle feeding. Hats off for mums who EBF but it's not for me. By expressing it's helping my partner bond with his baby and it gives me a break, which is well needed. Do what's right for you Hun, as long as that baby has you, that's all that matters xx

Start pumping it made the world of difference in my breastfeeding journey as someone else can feed baby x