For me, being a parent with ADHD means being easily over stimulated by all the noise and energy. I get easily touched out where I want littles off my body. I’m easily distracted and will start one task only to find myself immersed in a less important task and never finished the first task. 

 

I have always been able to hyperfocus on tasks. It made me a work horse in my hospital job with the ability to tune out beeping monitors and nurses and patients talking around me. It is exceptionally helpful when writing social media posts and blogs. As a parent, this tendency gets in the way because there are more important things that need to be done but I get stuck in the loop. During hyperfixation I easily lose track of time and sometimes the ability to prioritize other tasks. Snapping out of hyperfixation is difficult and then everything that needed done gets rushed or put off until later. Always later. And some times when I’m hyper-focusing on a task, I won’t hear my kids until they escalate or crying or whining.  

 

Those with ADHD have an additional work load while breastfeeding. Often undiagnosed and misunderstood in women, those who are breastfeeding will experience additional challenges such as:

🤯Sensory overload: being easily touched out during feeding. Finding the noises and energy of the baby to be very draining and tiring. 

⛓Feeling restricted or trapped by feedings

⏱Time blindness: easily losing track of time during and between feedings

🙀Distracted by tasks, difficulty completing tasks, starting one task only to find yourself sucked into a less important task. You go to wash pump parts only to find yourself rearranging the glass cupboard. 

😵‍💫Overwhelming thought, swirling thoughts, easily anxious. This can have many impacts including inhibiting let down when feeding and reducing the ability to sleep when woken during the night for night feedings. 

 

🤱🏽 Breastfeeding was the easiest part of parenting. It was an excuse to sit in one place and have baby quiet for a long period of time. It meant an excuse for ignoring other tasks because I was feeding the baby. 

🥳Starting something and getting distracted, leaving half done tasks. Folding laundry and fixating on rearranging the sock drawer. Going to put the dishes in the dishwasher, setting them by the sink, cleaning the counter instead because there’s crumbs. 

🤫Listening is hard. I want to listen to my husband and kids, but I often find myself thinking about a million other things. Some times to the point of completely blocking out what they’re telling me.

🧐Hyperfocus. I have always been able to hyperfocus on tasks. It made me a work horse in my hospital job with the ability to tune out beeping monitors and nurses and patients talking around me. It is exceptionally helpful when building social media with posts and blogs. As a parent, this tendency gets in the way because there are more important things that need to be done but I get stuck in the loop. During hyperfixation I easily lose track of time and sometimes the ability to prioritize other tasks. Snapping out of hyperfixation is difficult and then everything that needed done gets rushed or put off until later. Always later. And some times when I’m hyper-focusing on a task, I won’t hear my kids until they escalate or crying or whining.  

🤯Overstimulated. Before kids, I didn’t think I was sensitive to noise and energy. I was the extrovert who loved being around people. But kids are a different kind of energy, especially while also working full time. There’s no downtime or escape from the energy and it’s very draining to the point of meltdown. Getting overstimulated and feeling sensory overload is a very common feeling for those with ADHD.

 

When considering ADHD medication use during lactation, while most medications are considered safe for mom and baby, there is no “zero risk” option. However, the benefits of using a medication to help decrease anxiety and increase focus usually outweigh the risks. If you have been on a certain med prior to breastfeeding and it worked well for you, it would be reasonable to resume that medication while breastfeeding.

 

When taking any medication, you want to monitor for side effects both in you and the baby. Most common side effects when taking ADHD meds are:

🥛 Changes in milk supply

🛌 Sedation/sleepiness or agitation/hyperactivity in baby

⚖️Poor feeding or weight gain in baby

 

Stimulants and non-stimulants for ADHD can work well to help you feel balanced again. Work closely with an IBCLC and your primary care physician when resuming or starting a medication to help continue and feel supported in your breastfeeding journey