depression & breastfeeding, worried about weaning off

[rattlemehearties]

I have depression and I am thinking of weaning my 12mo off breastfeeding. She has only had the breast, no bottles (she takes water from a sippy cup). I am worried about the hormonal changes making me even more depressed. I can't decide whether to put off weaning until she stops herself even though this will restrict some of my life for longer (eg no work trips away overnight). We're down to only 2 feeds a day on demand now.

Has anyone experienced depression related to breastfeeding or weaning? Does anyone have any good resources? I worry my GP won't have any knowledge of this.

Anyone?

Don't have much to add but am happy to bump for you!

When I stopped bf'ing my DC2 I started having some very nasty mood swings (have so far not been on Anti-D's). Went to my GP and asked if it might be related to ending bf and she said not, instead took me off the mini-pill I was taking at the time, which seemed to get me back on track (for a while anyway).

I had used "dr google" and read some stuff about ending bf'ing and hormone changes.

FWIW my GP specialises in women's health, so I do tend to trust her on this stuff.

So...I don't know. Worth seeing your GP anyway to flag it up in case you do need help?

Also make sure you flag it up as a potential issue with your partner/family/friends so they can watch out for you and help you to help yourself if needed?

Good luck...and I will watch this thread with interest. I hope someone knowledgeable appears!

P.S. stopping bf'ing can be tough for a couple of days with the crying (some children aren't that bothered!) and the engorgement even with two feeds a day, expect that for about 10 days. You need RL support during all of this. Do you have RL support?

At 12 months, I'd have thought you could miss a couple of feeds due to being away, and it not be a problem?

I've been struggling with depression and anxiety since before DD birth, having taken sertraline from time to time. For a variety of reasons we had to stop bfeeding abruptly a fortnight ago. She's 2 years 8 months. I'd been dreading it, as she's been a bf fanatic, and aswell as thinking I'd miss the bond (and the magic bullet) the bfeeding provides, I feared the hormone shifts would be too much for me to handle. Two weeks on, and it's ok. There's been nothing seismic, nothing out of the ordinary at all. The crash i thought would come hasn't happened. Obviously, everyone is different, but just to say the lows may not be as great as you fear.