I have been in contact for some time with a mother that is breastfeeding
and recently diagnosed with PP Anxiety Disorder and presented by the Psych and
Medical providers that she needs to wean and to start taking an
antidepressant, either Pamilor or Nortriptyline to get better.  She is
hesitant to give up breastfeeding unless absolutely necessary.
She is a G1 P1 who delivered Oct 25, 1995, normal vaginal delivery.  About 2
days postpartum she started having the following:  Lightheadedness, diarrhea,
sick to stomach, stomach pains, achy eyes, nausea, insomnia tingling in face,
alternate hot and sweaty or cold and clammy.  These basic symptoms lasted for
the next five days.  Over the past several months they have come and gone in
varying degrees.  At Christmas time they were really bad and she came in to be
evaluated by Medicine.  Lab work gave a diagnosis of "Water intoxication" and
limiting fluids braought labs back to normal.  She also had a full blown
evaulation with more labs, MRI that ruled out brain tumor, thryoid problem,
etc. She has been in contact through the NET with the "Depression After
Delivery" located in Pennsylvania.  She wants to be fully informed before she
makes a decision.
She was non-functioning as a mother for the first 3 weeks, states that either
her mother and/or husband took care of everything and all she did was
breastfeed.  She has plenty of help at home in running the house and taking
care of the baby, and really would like to what is best for both of them.  She
is really hesitant to stop breastfeeding.   Any ideas???  Thanks so much.