Dear Lactnetters, just wanted to clarify my previous post re: Lithium and
Breastfeeding. I did not mean to imply that breastfeeding is contraindicated
for the woman taking Lithium with my poor choice of words. Nor did I mean to
label someone by their dis-ease process. I have  personal experience with
Bipolar Disorder and have no prejuidices against the mentally ill. I do agree
with Susan that for the depressed individual Breastfeeding can be a
remarkable and wonderful help with keeping depressive symptoms at bay and
facilitating the bonding process. I also do not think it is appropiate to
give a mom a blanket statement that there is very little risk, that would be
negligent. There are a few documented cases of Lithium Toxicity in Newborns,
not older babes, as referenced in Hale's new edition. We all know that having
a babe is a stressful and sleep deprived albeit happy  time for the new mom ,
two things that could throw a mom back into a hypomanic phase , even if she
were taking the lithium. I wholeheartedly support BreastFeeding in the
depressed mom , but with caution , not sugar coating, Lisa Mooney RN BSN

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