Can weaning off breastfeeding worsen depression?

[MotherofBingo]

I'm not sure if I'm right in thinking this but I've got a 3.5 year old who's stopping breastfeeding, she's down to once every other day on average. I do suffer with my mental health quite badly in general anyway and there is other things going on that's contributing as well but I also think my mood isn't really proportionate to what's going on in my life either, could it be the hormone changes from stopping that's making me feel worse? And if so is it likely to level out once she's stopped completley?

I was warned when she was a baby thay stopping could have an impact but I thought that was more likely when talking about babies not so much late term weaning. I don't particularly want to ring my crisis team about this if its breastfeeding related because I dont think they'd really understand/not the right service. I get a lot of judgement for how long I've breastfed for anyway, I was just trying to do what was right for my child but now I'm not so sure it was the right thing but I can't change that now. Has anyone else experienced low mood when weaning, particularly at a later stage?

YABU - weaning can't cause mood changes
YANBU - weaning can cause it and it's temporary

Don't be afraid to ring them please.
I know stopping or weaning breastfeeding can effect mental health as it can affect hormones but no idea if that's true for breastfeeding pre schoolers.

If you feel your mental health if worsening you need support whatever the reason.

Yes it can.

It is usually temporary - a couple of weeks.

good luck

YANBU, weaning causes hormonal changes that can likely affect your mood. Also when weaning this late. It'll likely take 6-8 weeks after the last feed to stabilize.

Regardless of the temporary nature of the problem, I think you should seek help and support. Especially if you tend to have poor mental health in other ways, too.

I would imagine it impacts no matter when you stop and if you think about it, might have more of an impact the later you wean because your body has been used to a certain hormone level for so long and now it's changing.. Definitely seek support xx

Yes yes yes

Yes. Breastfeeding stimulates your body's production of oxytocin, which can be described as a "feel-good hormone", so upon stopping breastfeeding it's normal to experience a dip whilst your body re-balances.

Knowledge is power; it's good that you're aware of the issue, as it can help you to cope with the low mood to know that there is a physical reason for it. Best wishes.

It's a bit of a contradiction that I don't want to ring the crisis team because I'm scared that they won't take me seriously, but I'm also scared that they will. But you are all right I should be ringing them, but at least I know that there's likely a physiological reason this time as well.

It can definitely affect mood. After bfing my ds for 2 years, stopping made me feel awful, so gloomy and numb. Even though I was just feeding evening and morning and didn’t think he was getting a lot anyway. It lasted a few weeks then eased off.

Yes it can. I dropped to night time feeds only when my son was 10 months and felt incredibly angry and irritatable, then had a period when he was 11 months old (for the first time since giving birth) and realised it was basically extreme PMS that I was going through. Please reach out to someone if you are struggling badly. It will hopefully settle down when you've stopped completely though.

You can ring the crisis team to talk about this without telling them the exact age of your child. Just say you’re in the process if weaning your toddler off breastmilk and you think that’s contributing to your moods at the moment.

Yes this has happened with both my babies and the MH people don't take it seriously at all. Frustrating really.

Just want to say that it is never wrong to breastfeed till that sort of age. Please don't let anyone make you feel like you've made a mistake because you have done a phenomenal job and the benefits that it'll have had for DD are unparalleled.