Postpartum Depression

PPD has become such a phenomenon that the post office lady asked after me and the baby and if I was feeling depressed. I'm utterly exhausted, my brain is only semi-functioning, and bathing is not high on my priority list, but as far as emotional well-being, I feel great. Of course, I have done this postpartum transition thing a couple of times before.

I smile adoringly at my little baby in the middle of the night after she just peed on me and tell her, "It's a good thing we have these bonding hormones."

I had a conversation with a new father who insisted that his wife had to quit breastfeeding their newborn in order to cope with postpartum depression. I thought that was a perspective I couldn't relate to and I felt really sad for them.

There's something to be said for having had a mother who breastfed me and my siblings, and for having been the oldest child, and for having done lots of child care before I had babies of my own.