Breastfeeding, Mental Health, Anti-Depressants and Alternative Treatments
May 13, 2008 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, carnival, health of the baby, health of the mother, medication
In honor of Mental Health Month, the Health and Wellness Channel focuses on mental health topics today. The good news is that breastfeeding protects maternal mental health. According to a study by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett in the International Breastfeeding Journal:
Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce stress and protect maternal mood. Breastfeeding also reduces stress of babies of depressed mothers and protects them from the harmful effects of maternal depression. Treatment approaches that are anti-inflammatory have efficacy in treating depression. These include EPA and DHA, exercise, cognitive therapy, herbal anti-depressants such as St. John’s wort, and standard antidepressants.
Unfortunately, many breastfeeding mothers will …read more
