Effect on mother EBF weaning to solids

[freelancegirl]

DS2 is 6 and a half months and we have been giving him solids for a couple of weeks now. All going well with that. He has been EBF and I am finding my breasts tingling and my body feeling different - slightly premenstrual, bloated. I have held onto weight when breastfeeding anyway which is very annoying. He is my second baby but I mix fed DS1 so didn't get as many symptoms when weaning onto solids even though I went on to bf him until 13 months.

I can't find any information on Dr Google about how weaning onto solids affects the mother. Any advice or experience gratefully received.

[FoodieMum3]

Ive had that on and off the past few months too...maybe if the feeds have become spaced out, your body might be gearing up to ovulate?

Maybe you should do a pregnancy test, just to out rule pregnancy, but I'm pretty sure it's just hormonal.

[squizita]

I chatted to a bf counsellor about this. She said typically it's just a 10% reduction in milk that triggers weight loss (as your body realises it doesn't need emergency fat for ebf feeding any more) off tge bum/thighs, return of ovulation hormones - even before ovulation it can feel funny, and of course fewer nutrients going straight to baby.

[freelancegirl]

Hey, replies, thanks! Pretty sure I'm not pregnant Foodie. A small baby and a toddler are wonderful contraception :) but yes I guess the reduction in feeding is sending some sort of hormonal message that thing might get back to normal again. With ds1 I didn't start my period again until giving up bf totally at 13mo. But come to think of it I did feel some hormonal changes quite a bit before that. It's not the main concern of course but it would be nice to lose some bloody weight! You are right Squizita about it all being hips and stomach.