Dropping breastfeed(s) - feeling rubbish! Anyone been through this?

[minniemitch]

Prepare for a longish waffly wibble -apologies in advance.

My dd2 is 8.5 months. I breastfeed her first thing and last thing before bed (7ish). In the last few weeks I've dropped the dream feed and have started to replace her mid morning feed with a bottle (she'll be going to a childminder's for a day a week soon). I was wondering whether dropping feeds has made anyone else feel like pants. I do feel rather down - short temper, quite low motivation, weepy, lethargic, quite like PMS really. I know dropping feeds alters hormone levels so this could be it.

BUT, my sister had a terrible brain injury in September - she nearly dies. Dd2 was 11 weeks. It was a terrible time as she was in oz and I couldn't afford to go out there. Yikes, am crying now. She's now made a very unexpected and very good recovery but we were told to expect her to die. My mum was close to a breakdown before Christmas and I was counselling her really - trying to help her through. I don't know whether all that has caught up with me. I was diagnosed with acute anxiety as I had a few panic attacks and couldn't sleep. Now I want to sleep all the time!

Perhaps it's the combo of decreasing the BF and all the other stuff - new babe, very very sick sister, mum on the edge. Don't know! I'm trying to be strong but feel like I want to get away and feel very guilty about it. I love my girls (have dd1 - 3yrs) but I want to get in the car and drive to the beach. I want to stay overnight at a friend's house. I want to ball my eyes out.

sorry, am total bag of rubbish. what a lot of emotional spewage.

anyway, back to my question - anyone feel crap after dropping feeds?

Minnie - can't speak for myself as I haven't weaned ds off the breast but a few mums I know spoke of a hormonal dip when stopping bfing. So I don't think your experience is unusual. I'm sure it will pass though

Thanks Bouncing Turtle - sounds promising and slightly reassuring. It does feel like really bad PMS at the moment. Perhaps I've dropped two feeds too close together.

Sorry about everything you have been through.
FWIW every time I dropped a bfeed about 4 or 5 days later I would get what felt like the worst PMT for a few days, then get better again. Every time. It's not uncommon, I think HTH

Oh my goodness, you have been through so much, no wonder you feel crap! So pleased your sister pulled through
I don't think it would be a bad idea for you to take some time out - a night at the beach could let you breathe and give you some renewed perspective. Can you express and get 1 night off?
I actually felt ok about dropping feeds once dd was taking solids. The caveat being I expressed what I could for her time at nursery so felt I was doing the best possible and kind of avoided any guilt trips - don't know if that makes sense?
Hope you are feeling better soon

Oh lovely messages! Thanks so much. 2Happy, it sounds as though you've been through it too. That does make me feel better.

I've not had much time off since dd2 was born last June. DH gives me time on a Sat morn which is fab but it's never longer than around 3 hours. This may sound like loads but I'm craving a whole day. Hmm - what an ungrateful boot. My girls are gorgeous but I'm a snappy monster at the moment.

Thanks Jackstini. I could express - I did so at the beginning, but dd2 seems to love the bf cuddles and is more reluctant than dd1 to take subtantial feeds from a bottle, especially just before bed.

Maybe leave dropping the feeds for now, you have enough on your plate and maybe you and dd2 can do with the cuddles.
try giving ebm for the childminder day and make the bedtime feed a cuddly long one