Is there a come down or hormones when stopping breastfeeding...

[suzi2]

I haven't fed DS in 2 days (he's almost a year old) and I feel so awful. I don't think it's normal to feel this sad about not breastfeeding! I feel really stupid for being so upset. I'm pg, so there are other hormones at play but I have been emotionally stable so far!

Did anyone find that they had a hormone come down (a bit like baby blues) when they stopped? I can't stop crying and just want to hug my DS all the time - although he can't stand getting hugged! I'm just hoping it's hormonal and will pass in a day or two.

hi Suzi,

Sorry to hear you are feeling blue.
I have the opposite problem, was blue while bfing and GP insisted I stop bfing. Of course, I didn't... But I saw a psych recently and asked here if she thought the hormones dut to bfing make a difference and whether I should stop. She said there is no evidence for it. Unless you have been someone with a particularly strom PMS.
So, is probably more likely due to pregnancy hormones. It is also well justifiable that you are just upset for a good reason (i.e. that you stop Bfing which is something nice to do). I would go talk to GP and explain your feelings, just in case you do have prenatal depression (which people are finding more and more common).
Otherwise, give yourself sometime to adjust to your new situation, and think positive about the experience and bfing you will share with your new baby.
All the best!

Thanks - feel a lot better today and actually quite silly for being so upset all weekend. Still a bit teary about it but think I'll be fine! Hormones have a lot to answer for!

oh god yes
DD quite suddenly refused to feed at 10 months and after 2 weeks of tears and screaming (on both sides!) I reluctantly had to concede that that was it

think the crash was a bit extreme in my case as I didn't wind down and had to just stop like that - but my hormones went doolally and I was very upset indeed about the whole thing. would imagine that pregnancy hormones aren't helping - mine are crazy at the moment!

Hi MrsJC waves. It was very sudden for us too. He bit me and drew blood on thurs and then bit at the beginning of every feed thereafter. So we couldn't go on. he was very confused as to why it was being offered and taken away, so I think I was crying more for him. Since I've not offered feeds, I feel better as he's getting used to the idea.

Oh, you too, eh? So glad to hear this. DS (10 mnths) has dropped both day time feeds and feeds in morning but less keen on last thing at night. I read a thread here that said most babies don't self-wean at 10 months and it's more likely to be a nursing strike but this has been going on for a month now and I just can't keep up my supply. So it looks like he just doesn't need it but I feel so bereft and needing to cuddle him/needing cuddles myself and just can't stop crying. If the psych. is right, and it's not hormones, what is it I'm feeling?

suzi, was in exactly the same situation back in jan, was preg and finished bf-ing dd after one year and there was a definite crash in my mood.

i got really upset and sad that dd hadn't seemed very upset, felt the most desperate urge to go back in time and start feeding her again, just felt like the most horrible person and got very weepy and emotional. i think the fact that i was preg made me feel even worse as i was feeling guilty that dd was going to lose out on our attention when the baby came and was so tired i felt i wasn't giving her enough attention and was being very snappy with her.

it eases a bit although as we all know pregnant women aren't exactly emotionally stable at the best of times!

good luck and congrats on the pregnacy