Dear Meadsie,

You've had a tough road. It's a good thing that you PND has finally been diagnosed. I wonder if you have commenced treatment for it? Many mothers worry that drugs prescribed for PND will cause problems for their breastfeeding babies - but this is not the case, and you can adequately be treated and continue to breastfeed. After a few weeks while you recieve the right balance of medication you will find you are able to be more confident and less stressed with your mothering. Other forms of treatment are also available. The Australian Breastfeeding Association's booklet (written in conjunction with PANDA) is a great read and available for only $5 from Australian Breastfeeding Association
Personal Experience....all my babies started off, at birth in the high percentiles - I grew a good baby in there. Over the first months they crossed over to a growth pattern more in keeping with their genetics. This meant that they went rapidly from the 70th percentile to the 10th, and the 80th percentile to the 3rd. With my first people "got in my ear" and convinced me to give formula which nearly cost my breastfeeding relationship. With my second I had more confidence. Daniel never ever ever gained more than 100g per week. At 14 he is probably still on the 3rd percentile - but, hey, some-one has to be there. He's finally had a growth spurt and is nearly as tall as me. He is gorgeous, perfect surfy boy with a wide circle of friends and a great (if a little scathing) sense of humour. He is himself - he was never going to be any different
Hindsight is great - as a new mother, you don't know how it will unfold, but you are doing a great job withyour little one.