Can I clarify something?

What we call postnatal depression and postnatal (or puerperal)
psychosis in the UK are both postnatal conditions, obviously, but
they're not on the same clinical spectrum - at least, that's been my
understanding.

So we can't talk about PND 'progressing' to PP. They are generally
thought of as two distinct clinical entities...aren't they?

I am not speaking as a medical or psychiatric expert here, and
clinical understanding may have moved on since I researched my book
(see below).

I found the evidence for links between bf and PND to be inconclusive
in the research, and this was echoed in the many personal stories I
heard.

Women who were breastfeeding without problems and who had PND were
sometimes devastated to be told they 'had to stop' b/c of medication.
Whether they stopped or continued, bf was an important way to remain
connected to their baby, something they were doing right.

Where bf was going badly, it seemed to make them feel worse and more
depressed. Some were glad to stop bf, as it lifted a feeling of
responsibility from their shoulders, which was a relief.

PND has many social aspects. It's far more, I think, than a result of
hormones. And so is breastfeeding!

PP is less likely to show these social elements. As I say, my
understanding is that it's a different 'thing'.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, Newcastle upon Tyne UK
(author, NCT Book of Postnatal Depression, Thorsons, £5.99, 1998).

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html