We found ourselves deeply moved by the beautiful words of a mum who credits breastfeeding her son with getting her through postpartum depression.
Posted on the Facebook page Breastfeeding Mama Talk, the mum candidly spoke about her battle with the illness, explaining how feeding her baby gave her a reason to live.
“Breastfeeding literally saved my life,” she wrote. “When my son was two months old I got severely ill with postpartum depression. So bad that I had a suicide plan and for 10 months straight I had to make the choice to live another day.”
She got through each day by setting herself the goal to feed her son – and thanks to this choice, she has now come out on the other side.
“My son is breastfed and no matter how hard I tried he would refuse to drink from a bottle,” she says. “So each day I had to choose life just so that my son could be fed. Now he is 13 months old. Still breastfeeding.
“I am recovered from the postpartum depression and so grateful for my life now. I know that if my son would have taken a bottle I would be dead now. I truly believe that breastfeeding my son is the reason I am alive today.”
We are so touched by how this poignant story shows the healing power of bonding with your baby, however you choose to do it – be it eye contact, skin-to-skin, bottle-feeding or breastfeeding.
If you are feeling down and would like someone to talk to, you can call the Samaritans for free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 116123 in the ROI and the UK.
