The Connection Between Postpartum Depression & Breastfeeding

About to have a baby? Expecting moms often think about everything the baby will need, but what about you — the mother you are becoming? Preparing for motherhood and your postpartum time is imperative. It’s a transformative time — mind, body, and soul. And there is a lot to think about and consider when preparing for your new life with your baby. This is why we are grateful to chat with Anne Wanlund and Stef Werdmuller on today’s episode to dive deeply into the postpartum period, including postpartum wellness and the connection between postpartum depression and breastfeeding.

Who are Anne & Stef?

Anne Wanlund is the Co-Founder and CEO of Canopie, a digital maternal mental health company. Before Canopie, she spent over five years leading maternal health organizations in East Africa, most recently as the COO of a social enterprise that uses technology to improve maternal and child nutrition. She has worked in global health for the State Department, USAID, and Massachusetts General Hospital and has a Master’s degree from Tufts University. Anne is channeling her passion and expertise in maternal health and personal experiences with mental health conditions as a new mom to address the enormous care gap.

Stef Werdmuller is an IBCLC, teacher, and medical records coordinator at Aeroflow Healthcare. She is also a postpartum doula and student herbalist with an ever-increasing passion for supporting growing families. After a challenging experience breastfeeding her first child without access to resources and support, Stef was inspired to care for other parents going through the same issues. Stef values sustainability and innovation. She wants the mothers she supports to know that they matter and that non-judgmental help is available while they nourish their babies.

What do we discuss?

In this episode, we chat with Stef and Anne about all things postpartum, including the connection between postpartum depression and breastfeeding. So many things are going on with our bodies when we are postpartum. With all of the changes, physically and emotionally, it’s important to keep certain things in mind. There are also certain things women can do for a smoother transition to new motherhood. Anne and Stef also explain how mothers’ mental health can impact their ability to feed their babies. Thankfully, they share with us where mothers can turn for help and much more.

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