lifecirclecc.com Blog

I’ll be giving three presentations at La Leche League of Oregon’s Conference for Families and Health Care Professionals on November 11-13, 2006, at the Hilton-Eugene in Eugene, Oregon. In my presentation, “Postpartum Depression: The Most Common Complication of Birth,” I will give an overview of postpartum depression, how breastfeeding and postpartum depression interact, how and why to screen and refer breastfeeding mothers for treatment, and how to protect breastfeeding in the context of treatment for postpartum depression. In “The Hot Topic of Infant Feeding Rhetoric: Risks or Benefits?” I will explore the multidisciplinary evidence base that provides guidelines on identifying and using effective and ethical language when communicating about infant feeding, particularly whether to speak of the “benefits of breastfeeding” or the “risks of formula feeding.” In “Pioneer Mothering” I will talk about the challenges that many contemporary women courageously face as they mother in a markedly different way than has been done in recent generations, for example by being the first mother for generations in her family to breastfeed. The conference is geared to meet the needs of families, health care providers, and mental health practitioners. Health care professionals can earn continuing education credits for attending two of my presentations, as well as for attending many other presentations at the conference. For more information about my private practice, speaking engagements, and publications, see my website at http://www.lifecirclecc.com. For general conference and registration information, see the conference website http://www.llloregon.org, call 503-824-5533, or email info@llloregon.org.

I have been thinking today about the fullness of the experience of mothering. Women may celebrate the privilege of mothering their children in one moment and feel overwhelmed, overworked, and full of frustration in the next. We feel gratitude for our children even as we grieve the loss of our former lives and former selves. Motherhood may involve great joy and great sorrow. We watch our children grow and learn. Through their eyes, we see anew the beauty of the world around us. Their ability to grow and change and become who they must become is awe inspiring. We take pride in growing and learning right along with our children. At the same time, we grieve being unable to conceive, the loss of a baby during pregnancy, the stillbirth of a baby, the death of a child of any age. We grieve the loss of expected experiences–be they related to conception, pregnancy, birth, adoption, breastfeeding, or mothering. We struggle to come to some kind of terms with a congenital disorder in a child. We struggle to overcome postpartum depression right when we expected to be very tired from mothering a newborn–but still happy. The fullness of the mothering experience is often insufficiently acknowledged, leaving many mothers wondering if they are the only ones having very mixed feelings about a very mixed experience. May your Mother’s Day have offered you the chance to honor your experience of mothering in a deeper way, knowing that a full spectrum of feelings is a normal and healthy response to a full spectrum of experience.

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS, IBCLC, RLC, CATSM

Thyroid dysfunction can negatively impact both maternal mood and breastfeeding. Therefore, whenever a new mother is experiencing symptoms of depression and/or low milk supply or low infant weight gain, assessment of her thyroid function is warranted. High levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and low levels of triiodothyronine (T3)/tetra-iodothyronine (thyroxine or T4) are suggestive of hypothyroidism. Thyroid replacement therapy may alleviate both symptoms of depression and low milk supply. Low levels of TSH and increased levels of T3/T4 are suggestive of hyperthyroidism. When either hypo- or hyperthyroidism are present, treatment and techniques that facilitate milk release may be helpful: pitocin nasal spray for milk ejection, breast massage from the chest toward the nipple, and breast compression during breastfeeding.

Reference: Marasco, L. The impact of thyroid dysfunction on lactation. Breastfeeding Abstracts 2006; 25(2):9, 11-12.

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS, IBCLC, RLC, CATSM