Feeling so hormonal after weaning

[shreddednips]

I've just stopped breastfeeding my nearly 3yo DS about 4 days ago and I feel absolutely dreadful. It reminds me of the horrible hormonal feeling you get a few days after giving birth, it's like the worst PMS ever. I can't stop crying and just feel terrible.

Has anyone else been through this and, if so, does it get better quickly? Is it normal? It makes me want to start breastfeeding again just to get rid of this horrible hormonal feeling but, as my username suggests, I do think it's time to stop.

Yes! I had this with DS who stopped feeding suddenly at around 18 months. I spent about a week randomly bursting into tears whenever I thought about it, then it passed and I realised I was actually really happy he'd stopped on his own terms! Hang on in there x

Thanks so much for replying, I feel a bit more sane now. It didn't occur to me that I would feel any effects at all because I didn't think he was really taking much- most of his feeds were just lots of mucking about and popping off (sometimes quite painfully) to have a chat, which is why I stopped because it was terribly annoying 😆

My friend suggested expressing some off as my breasts are surprisingly sore, but I'm not sure whether that will just drag the whole miserable process out.

Yes!! It lasted about a week I think, maybe 10 days but I felt horrendous, super anxious and constantly crying like extreme PMT. Hope you start to feel better soon!

I hand expressed a bit each morning in the shower just enough to relieve the pressure.

Thanks, that's reassuring that it only lasted a week. I'll try hand expressing a little bit, I think it would be easier to bear if I wasn't sore as well.

I'm also a bit taken aback by how sad and slightly guilty I feel about stopping, which is ridiculous because I was quite happy with my decision before I actually stopped. DS has been quite accepting about it but I feel rotten. I'm sure it must be the hormones because I was so very ready to stop!