'Breastfeeding almost completely removes the long-standing efects of
postnatal depression on babies,' Dr Margaret Oates, consultant
perinatal psychiatrist at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, told
a CPHVA conference last month.'

The quote is from Community Practitioner, journal of the Community
Practitioners and Health Visitors Association in the UK.

It goes on to remind us that PND can have long-lasting effects on the
baby and the relationship with the mother - but says these are much
worse if the baby is not breastfed.

'Dr Oates said the intimacy that occurs between mother and baby while
breastfeeding takes place may be more of a factor than the breast
milk itself.'

I don't know of any reasearch that shows this in a large sample, but
it certainly fits with what we know about bf.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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