Comments on: The Results Are In on the Elephant in the Living Room: Part I http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/ Will write for yarn. Tue, 04 May 2010 06:06:15 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Lagoon http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-2127 Lagoon Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:21:58 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-2127 I really think more people should talk about a decision and choice that is not wrong or bad for your child. I take medication that cannot be used while breast-feeding. I was off everything, including medications that I used for panic attacks, while pregnant. I could have used a lower dose, but I was not comfortable with that and believed I would be strong enough to handle it. However, I made the decision that since I was at such a massively high risk for PPD, that the absolute best thing for my child and myself was for me to take my medication again immediately after child-birth and not add any undue risk. I have tried many medications over the years, and they have been gambles and were very risky to my faculties. I wanted to be able to sing and smile and be generally joyous around my baby for her developmental needs, and I wanted to be able to look back at pictures of this time and know I was happy and not in agony or being unresponsive or with little expression. I am around a lot of mothers who do breast-feed, I went through a lot of arguments with my partner over the decision that I made. I do not believe that what I do to take care of myself and my child is wrong or a bad decision, but I do believe that in general society frowns upon it. And that is wrong. I really think more people should talk about a decision and choice that is not wrong or bad for your child.

I take medication that cannot be used while breast-feeding. I was off everything, including medications that I used for panic attacks, while pregnant. I could have used a lower dose, but I was not comfortable with that and believed I would be strong enough to handle it.

However, I made the decision that since I was at such a massively high risk for PPD, that the absolute best thing for my child and myself was for me to take my medication again immediately after child-birth and not add any undue risk. I have tried many medications over the years, and they have been gambles and were very risky to my faculties.

I wanted to be able to sing and smile and be generally joyous around my baby for her developmental needs, and I wanted to be able to look back at pictures of this time and know I was happy and not in agony or being unresponsive or with little expression.

I am around a lot of mothers who do breast-feed, I went through a lot of arguments with my partner over the decision that I made.

I do not believe that what I do to take care of myself and my child is wrong or a bad decision, but I do believe that in general society frowns upon it. And that is wrong.

]]> By: I Lied to My Shrink, and Other Hazards of Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding Moms Unite http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-2099 I Lied to My Shrink, and Other Hazards of Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding Moms Unite Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:36:28 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-2099 [...] and suicidal ideation, and their place during breastfeeding” you can click here to read The Results Are In: The Elephant in the Living Room Part I and here to read The Elephant in the Living Room Part [...] [...] and suicidal ideation, and their place during breastfeeding” you can click here to read The Results Are In: The Elephant in the Living Room Part I and here to read The Elephant in the Living Room Part [...]

]]> By: Melodie http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Melodie Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:40:36 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-397 I love that you point out we really don't know what goes on behind our friend's closed doors. You're right. And then you say all these things I feel and have felt and I am so relieved. Thank you for writing this. I look forward to the "series." I love that you point out we really don’t know what goes on behind our friend’s closed doors. You’re right. And then you say all these things I feel and have felt and I am so relieved. Thank you for writing this. I look forward to the “series.”

]]> By: Katherine Stone http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Katherine Stone Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:31:20 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-396 Ugh. I hate to see that the majority would rather continue to suffer than wean or get treatment. I understand why, of course, because all of us believe that the only way to be a good mother is to sacrifice everything for our children. But what many women don't know is that there is a lot of serious research out there on the impact that untreated postpartum depression has on both the mom and the child. It's never an easy decision, but I'd feel better if moms were fully informed on all sides before making their choice. Some of them might answer differently. Thank you so much for these pieces, as they are very honest, well written and helpful discussions. I look forward to sharing them with my readers at Postpartum Progress. Ugh. I hate to see that the majority would rather continue to suffer than wean or get treatment. I understand why, of course, because all of us believe that the only way to be a good mother is to sacrifice everything for our children. But what many women don’t know is that there is a lot of serious research out there on the impact that untreated postpartum depression has on both the mom and the child. It’s never an easy decision, but I’d feel better if moms were fully informed on all sides before making their choice. Some of them might answer differently. Thank you so much for these pieces, as they are very honest, well written and helpful discussions. I look forward to sharing them with my readers at Postpartum Progress.

]]> By: Jennifer http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-395 Jennifer Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:17:08 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-395 ha! 'twas sarcasm..... ha! ’twas sarcasm…..

]]> By: barelyknittogether http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-394 barelyknittogether Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:13:07 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-394 Don't bar the door! That's what I've tried to say with some of my posts: we are so quick to align with one side or the other when really there is this huge continuum of answers. I think the devil is inflexibility, no matter what the subject, no matter what the stance. I guess that could be seen as being inflexible, huh? Thank you for the kindness and reassurance. I deeply appreciate them. Don’t bar the door! That’s what I’ve tried to say with some of my posts: we are so quick to align with one side or the other when really there is this huge continuum of answers. I think the devil is inflexibility, no matter what the subject, no matter what the stance. I guess that could be seen as being inflexible, huh? Thank you for the kindness and reassurance. I deeply appreciate them.

]]> By: Jennifer http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-393 Jennifer Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:48:06 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-393 Formula, like vaccinations, is very useful when used not supplant nature, but to supplement it when necessary. Birth and infancy and early motherhood are all very important to the people we are/become, but they are not the sum of everything we are. Now that I have said both formula and vaccinations are not the devil, I should really bar the door... Formula, like vaccinations, is very useful when used not supplant nature, but to supplement it when necessary. Birth and infancy and early motherhood are all very important to the people we are/become, but they are not the sum of everything we are.
Now that I have said both formula and vaccinations are not the devil, I should really bar the door…

]]> By: superlagirl http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-392 superlagirl Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:41:10 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-392 My feelings on medication and breastfeeding are really complicated. I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're starting this conversation, but I'm not sure I can take part. My post partum experiences were traumatic, and it's not something that's easy for me to talk about. I'm reading, though, and I thank you for writing this. My feelings on medication and breastfeeding are really complicated. I just wanted to say that I’m glad you’re starting this conversation, but I’m not sure I can take part. My post partum experiences were traumatic, and it’s not something that’s easy for me to talk about.

I’m reading, though, and I thank you for writing this.

]]> By: bessieviola http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-391 bessieviola Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:18:56 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-391 Yeesh, thank you for writing this. I was incredibly angry and depressed after returning to work from maternity leave - suddenly I had to "do it all" and I didn't know how. It was a scary, dark time for me; toward the end of it I finally realized that it was depression, but in the thick of it I couldn't see that. I'll be interested to read the rest of your posts - from what you've already said I feel that your story will be one I can relate to. Yeesh, thank you for writing this. I was incredibly angry and depressed after returning to work from maternity leave – suddenly I had to “do it all” and I didn’t know how. It was a scary, dark time for me; toward the end of it I finally realized that it was depression, but in the thick of it I couldn’t see that.

I’ll be interested to read the rest of your posts – from what you’ve already said I feel that your story will be one I can relate to.

]]> By: barelyknittogether http://barelyknittogether.com/2009/03/the-results-are-in-on-the-elephant-in-the-living-room-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-390 barelyknittogether Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:17:03 +0000 http://barelyknittogether.com/?p=550#comment-390 @phdinparenting I don't envy you that. I find myself in the same position as a doula, and I even have a case where I fell short and didn't pursue someone that I should have. It is such a hard balance to strike. Let's just hope someday women don't have to feel inadequate if they are struggling, and that door to the conversation can be open just enough to let us in. @phdinparenting I don’t envy you that. I find myself in the same position as a doula, and I even have a case where I fell short and didn’t pursue someone that I should have. It is such a hard balance to strike. Let’s just hope someday women don’t have to feel inadequate if they are struggling, and that door to the conversation can be open just enough to let us in.

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