You may begin weaning your baby from breast milk when it's time to start your little one on solids or maybe you decided to transition to formula and are weaning earlier.
Either way, weaning can bring on some unexpected changes.
Let's talk about that today.
What is weaning?
Weaning is the process by which a baby transitions from breast milk to other forms of nutrition.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises exclusive breastfeeding for six months, followed by supplementary breastfeeding before the baby is one year old.
Only about one-third of moms exclusively breastfeeding until 6 months. Therefore about 33% of moms start weaning at 6 months.
Sometimes women who are returning to work, have physical struggles, or just wanting their bodies back may wean earlier.
True!
There may be many changes to your mood when you wean.
Here are some common symptoms:
Mood swings
Sadness or depressed mood
Feeling tearful
Anxiety
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling of grief
Irritability
Lack of interest in activities that you used to enjoy
Lack of motivation
How long can these changes last?
Usually these symptoms are transient and should pass after a few weeks. Some mothers can have more persistent or severe symptoms that need medical attention.
Remember postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) can occur up to 1 year after delivery and occur in 1 out of 5 women!
If you've had emotions that are upsetting your quality of life for more than a couple of weeks, it's time to get professional support.
TRUE! It is thought that hormone fluctuations are the primary trigger of mood changes with weaning.
Weaning causes a reduction in prolactin and oxytocin levels, which is one of the shifts.
Prolactin, a hormone essential for milk processing, also induces feelings of well-being, calmness, and relaxation.
Oxytocin, the hormone necessary for milk ejection (let-down), is also known as the "love hormone."
It makes sense that a drastic drop in these hormones will impact a weaning mother's feelings.
Prolactin and Oxytocin are not the only hormones in flux during this time!
You will be back to having your period and the hormonal fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone which comes with this! If you were more sensitive before to these changes your PMS may be more intense.
Hormonal changes may be a big part but other factors can also contribute.
Change in Identify/role
Your days were filled with nursing and or pumping since the birth of your child. Yes it may have had some challenges and stress but it came with a sense of purpose and identity as a mom. Now you are adjusting to a new role. With this transition may come many emotions.
Expectation of Breastfeeding duration
Perhaps you were not able to breastfeed as long as you had wanted or stopped before you were ready. This may come with feelings of guilt or regret. You may feel that it was your fault or it was a mistake. Remember you did nothing wrong! You have nothing to feel guilty over. Your baby is going to be okay!
What can you do to prevent mood changes?
There is no fool proof way to avoid post-weaning symptoms. Overall, no matter how and when you wean from breastfeeding, you will undergo a hormonal change.
Even though moms wean when they want to and on their own terms, it's normal to feel a sense of loss when you say goodbye to a particular time in your life as a mother. However, there are a few steps you can do to help reduce the effects.
Gradually Wean
If you wean slowly, you will have less of a hormonal collapse. Weaning over several weeks rather than a week or a few days is much better for the system.
Wean with Your Own Timetable
Moms that keep control of the weaning phase and refuse to succumb to social pressure—from peers, relatives, or even medical professionals—about how long they can feed their babies report feeling less conflicted during weaning.
Share Your Feelings
Simply letting it out and being truthful about what you're going through will help to reduce the severity of any emotions. It will make you feel less alone with your experience, and you will be more able to devise a strategy for the kind of assistance you need to begin feeling better.
Most importantly...Be patient with yourself whenever you decide to stop breastfeeding. It's a big change for you -- mentally, hormonally, and emotionally!
Remember, our lactation consultations and mental health counselors are available to support you through this! As always, reach out to MaternalWell text support with any general questions.
