ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to identify some of the key issues which may occur for a breastfeeding mother with mental health issues and the importance of supporting her breastfeeding journey. Rumination is a failed problem-solving process. The first remedy for rumination is to notice that it is happening. If mums notice a change in mood and that they are having an internal conversation with themselves this is a sign of rumination. Lack of sleep can be a major trigger to feeling less emotionally resilient. Uncertainty is a significant trigger to anxiety and worry. Worrying can be the key characteristic of becoming a parent, but this may exacerbate any previous anxiety difficulties a mother has had. Breastfeeding produces oxytocin which encourages emotional attachments and a sense of calmness. This may also help mothers settle into the change in their situation from possibly a role in management to becoming a new mother with little control or routine.
