I also think that society seriously underestimates the bond between mother and child. Had I killed myself when L was under 6 months old, there's no way I'd have left her behind. The only reason I was alive to make that decision is that when my mother was suicidal she couldn't work out how to kill both her extremely young children, couldn't leave them behind, and so didn't kill herself, either. If there'd only been one of us she could have managed it.

And it's not much better for the women who *don't* feel that bond. If it's there, the bond is an inconvenience to the world which won't provide childcare while one has psychiatric treatment and frequently won't admit the danger to the baby, and if it's not one is some sort of unmother unwoman and depressed to boot.