A Second
Chance
by Jody Bookert
Lancaster PA USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 18 No. 1, January-February 2001, p. 12
When I was diagnosed with
bipolar disorder (manic-depression) in 1995, lithium and an antidepressant
were prescribed to treat the characteristic high and low moods associated
with the illness. Lithium is associated with an increased risk of birth
defects, so when my husband and I decided to have a second child, I
knew I would need to stop taking the medication during my pregnancy.
I did not breastfeed my first child, a son, and I did not intend to
nurse my second child because I felt it was too risky for my health
to continue without my medication. (Most physicians consider lithium
to be contraindicated during breastfeeding.)
On July 28, 1999, I gave
birth to a healthy baby girl, Aja, and my husband, my mother, and I
took turns feeding her formula and wondering aloud why she cried so
much and slept so poorly. We noticed Aja's stomach often appeared distended,
and she vomited frequently. On her eighth day home, Aja vomited, stopped
breathing, and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. The doctors
said that Aja was highly allergic to cows milk and even reacted adversely
to soy formula. With few options, I decided to go off lithium and attempt
to breastfeed her.
With the help of a board-certified
lactation consultant, I rented a breast pump and learned the proper
latch-on positions. Soon I was producing enough milk to feed Aja and,
by eliminating dairy products from my own diet, eliminated my baby's
vomiting and gastrointestinal distress. She quickly gained weight and
appeared much more content.
I soon learned to love breastfeeding
and I lovingly pumped three times a day at work, knowing I was doing
the best possible thing for Aja. There could be no better bond between
us. However, my doctors advised me to breastfeed only as long as Aja
needed to grow to tolerate formula. They warned me that without lithium
I could suffer a mood swing, becoming either depressed or manic. However,
I wanted support from the medical community for continuing to breastfeed.
Fortunately, I found the
support I needed through my local La Leche League Group. With help from
a lactation consultant and my psychiatrist, I found an antidepressant
considered safe while breastfeeding. My psychiatrist monitors my mood
with frequent appointments. So far, I've suffered no serious setbacks.
I attend the local La Leche League Series Meetings monthly and have
found a wealth of support from the mothers there. They have seen me
through two bouts of mastitis and my concerns about weaning. It is my
hope that I can continue to breastfeed as long as Aja wants to nurse.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:29 UTC 2007.
