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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Does giving up breastfeeding affect your mood or emotions?

18 replies

prettycandles · 18/11/2004 15:30

I gave dd her last breastfeed 8 days ago, and have become more and more grumpy, tired and gruesome. Dd is also being less than her usual ray of sunshine, and is being rather erratic about meals - sometimes she eats, sometimes she won't. Now I know that's normal, but not for this little eating machine.

OP posts:
Original poster
prettycandles · 18/11/2004 16:00

bump?

And I ache.

OP posts:
spacemonkey · 18/11/2004 16:02

Yes, I would think the hormonal changes could be causing your change of mood pc, I guess it takes a while for your body to readjust. Also psychologically it's a kind of separation, so I'd guess that could affect you emotionally too (and dd). It's donkey's years since i stopped bf mine so I can't really remember, sorry!

enid · 18/11/2004 16:03

I felt quite depressed when I gave up both times. I think its hormonal. Also part of the whole 'growing up' thing...I felt similar when dd1 started school. It will pass but try to rest - its a wrench for both of you.

Bagpuss30 · 18/11/2004 16:04

Yes, I remember feeling very torn IYKWIM. It will pass though .

bakedpotato · 18/11/2004 16:13

i had the opposite. when i gave up (which i'd been dreading even though i hadn't loved it) i had a hormonal rush of relief and energy. i guess it hits in different ways.
is this ache physical or emotional?

Original poster
prettycandles · 21/11/2004 21:06

It's such a relief to hear that others have gone through this as well. Last time, with my first child, I descended into full-blown PND within 2-3 weeks of giving up feeding, and I truly dread and fear it happening again. I can't bear the thought of all that horror starting over again, not at this stage.

But I am such a grumpy bitch right now, so easily offended and so easily upset. I take everything personally. It's like massive PMT, but it's lasting too long to be PMT!

The ache is physical - my boobs, which had shrunk back to pre-pregnancy size since I started cutting down on feeds 3m or so ago, are once again too big for my bras! And they're lumpy, with engorged bits. I was combing them in the bath the other day in an attempt to ease them.

OP posts:
lydfabmarcsmum · 22/11/2004 21:39

Hi
I'm new to mumsnet had to reply to this discussion though! I stopped breastfeeding DS 4 months ago he's now 15 months. About 2 weeks after I started to feel low. Thought it was pmt but it got worse around his birthday.I think my hormone levels dropped. My gp said it was pnd i'm on prozac and feel fine now. I want to come off prozac ealry next year to ttc. I got pnd with my first child but didnt breastfeed her she had to have 2 operations by 8 months so I put it down to that.
lydfabmarcsmum

cellulitequeen · 22/11/2004 21:53

prettycandles, I sobbed for about 2 weeks when I stopped bf ds at 9m. I was so emotional and cried all the time. When I look back, I wish I hadn't have stopped as it was my decision to and i now feel like I was being selfish. But yes, my hormones went through the roof; my PMT is worse than it's ever been and my periods are really heavy, whereas they were fine before.

marsup · 22/11/2004 21:57

Oh dear - I just stopped b/f the day before yesterday (well DS stopped then and yesterday I decided to accept that ). This is a very worrying thread! is there anything in particular I should be doing to stop getting engorged breasts? and avoid getting depressed? we are about to move house, change city and I'm starting a new job so it's not the best time to get depressed. Have you found anything apart from 'combing', prettycandles?!

bakedpotato · 22/11/2004 22:02

prettycandles, if your breasts feel sore and lumpy, and you're feeling low and tired and as if you have extreme PMT, it sounds a bit like mastitis. that's exactly how i felt. i don't know how likely you'd be to have it this long after giving up feeding, maybe someone else will know, maybe i'm being dense. but in your shoes, i'd go to the gp.

Original poster
prettycandles · 23/11/2004 14:38

Marsup, please don't panic - it's not necessarily that bad. Most of the posters on this thread will be posting because this has happened to them, but most of the Mumsnetters will not post because it hasn't happened to them IYSWIM. To me it's reassuring to hear that it has happened to others, whereas you must try and take reassurance from the fact that this is a fairly short thread and it hasn't happened to most Mumsnetters!

I don't remember it being this bad after weaning ds, which is why it took me by surprise.

Things are leveling off a bit - I'm no longer grumpy 24/7 (dh breathes a sigh of relief) just in fits and starts and my boobs are starting to calm down. Dd is getting more cheerful too and eating better. We're generally nudists at home, but at the moment I'm tryig to keep covered up when around dd so as not to tease her - she still asks for 'boo' from time to time, and occasionally goes to my bed or to the living room to get ready for a feed. I feel a bit mean to be telling her 'no more boo', when I could easily restart.

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alfiebetty · 24/11/2004 08:26

This is a relief... I started to give up breastfeeding about 2 weeks ago the physical pain hasn't been too bad but emotionally I have been feeling awful, couldn't work out why thought it was DH being insensitive (again!)Anyway hope I feel better soon..might start taking evening primrose oil it used to help my mild PMT. DD is ok so obviously she was ready.

NotQuiteCockney · 24/11/2004 09:32

marsup, don't worry, experiences definately vary.

I stopped breastfeeding DS1 when he was 18 months. We were down to just one feed a day by then, and the only change I remember was suddenly having quite a bit more energy! (It probably helped that we were down to one feed, and that I was happy to give up.)

Donbean · 24/11/2004 10:08

i was emotional because i had enjoyed b/f so much and was sad to stop. Ds was actually weening himself and i had to stop as i was going back to work. I wasnt depressed just sad about it and missed it for ages, we have had lots of snuggly cuddles me and ds since!I hope it will pass soon for you.x

fastasleep · 25/11/2004 14:50

I know this is a daft question lol and sorry for intruding and adding it your original question prettycandles - I gave up breastfeeding at the beginning of my last period, as my baby reached 9 months (I had actually been expressing for most of that time, long story, hellish!) but could giving up breastfeeding be making me feel really sick, in the mornings especially..? And I'm having funny pains/tingles in my belly?! Could I be pregnant? Or am I just going insane because my friend's pregnant and I'm slightly jealous...heeeeelp! Lol...oh I'm not due AF for another week (just in case you were wondering!)

Soppy · 25/11/2004 15:04

Wow, I'm so glad I came across this thread. Currently in the process of giving up b/f (nearly there) and am already feeling ghastly. There are other factors but I was surprised to find myself bursting into tears at lunchtime today (normally I wait till the evening ). It's nice to think there might be a hormonal reason for this awful depressed not-coping feeling

Original poster
prettycandles · 25/11/2004 20:24

Fastasleep, I felt very much like that for the first couple of months after starting the mini-pill. I haven't found that I feel any different period-wise or pregnancy-wise (and, no, I'm not pg) as a result of weaning.

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fastasleep · 26/11/2004 08:23

I think I'm just crazy it's ok (I have pseudo morning sickness going on here aarrghh lol) thanks for the reply, I'm not on the pill or anything... just... daft or something.

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