Post weaning depression

[Vqui]

I just got my fourth period after weaning little one three months ago. He is nearly 2 already.

I have been feeling really anxious and been extremely tearful, I'm trying to track it with a period calendar app.

Has anyone else experienced this? It's a hormonal rollercoaster. This is my second child and I don't remember anything like this with my first, I'm past 40 so won't be having aby more babies (I'm wondering if I might be feeling sad about this too as I loved the tiny baby stage ).

Thanks. I have not posted here before so not sure how it all works. Just feeling quite alone.

Hello vqui, I’m not sure I can advise but I’ve had four children and felt the same as you after weaning. My last child was weaned when I was 39 and I knew he had to be my last baby, so found it particularly painful. All I can say is that I’m my experience, it helps to look at it as a different stage. Different, yet still wonderful. We did a ‘hand and head’ cuddle for a while which maintained the closeness for both of us, hand on my boob, head on my chest. The skin to skin contact was important. I’ve done this with all my children. My adult daughter still likes to lie across me sometimes whilst watching tv! Obvs no hand on boob though 😂)
Be gentle with yourself. You’re right, it’s a hormonal rollercoaster and I think we go through a grieving process when each stage ends. Big hug to you

Hi, you are definitely not alone. I think I am suffering from this, thankfully I seem to be improving - the calm between the storms is more frequent and lasts longer. Stopped feeding my two year old six months ago (my second and final baby) but still having mood swings and anger issues. I'm 39. Am waiting to see a counsellor. I found a couple of articles that I got my DH to read when he was struggling to understand and I was struggling to explain how I feel.

www.momtastic.com/health/536597-terrifying-experience-post-weaning-depression/

cupofjo.com/2012/02/motherhood-mondays-the-hardest-two-months-of-my-life/

They made me feel a bit better. Be kind to yourself and make sure you visit your GP if you need to. Mine was really kind.

All the best.

Thank-you onlythegood and tryingtogetitright , good advice and I will look up those articles. So good to know that I am not alone.

Tryingtogetitright, I have been getting both tearful and angry and I thought it should be done by now. It's like my hormones are on overdrive, missing the oxytocin and the oestrogen going crazy, it just doesn't seem to be balancing out. I'm in another country and was recommended pulsatilla as a homeopathic remedy to take from day 15 of my cycle.

Thank-you both so much for replying. It feels like it is a taboo subject or I should just be getting on with it but finding it hard.

Only the good, I do love the next stage and I love the cuddles. I think that on one level I would love to have another baby but I won't, I think that this is chemical.

X

I will look into pulsatilla. My doctor prescribed me sertraline but I'm scared to start it and get hooked - would really prefer to manage this myself if I can. Hormones are such a nightmare. I agree with you that it's chemical. My moods comes in waves. Some linger and sometimes it goes as fast as it arrives leaving me feeling guilty and ashamed of my behaviour. Feel like I'm letting everyone down by not coping better. I've got everything I ever wanted in life and I'm not enjoying it.

I was really low yesterday, turns out I was ovulating for the fourth time since DD2 was born. I don't think my periods have been too bad though, hope it improves.

Yes! Me! I stopped feeding both mine at just over a year & looking back after the 1st I was really all over the place and can now see in hindsight I was suffering anxiety & depression for the next couple of years. I am now feeling the same over a year after stopping feeding my 2nd & it's still not getting better, coupled with grieving my Dad I am about to get help I think as I am losing hope of coming out of this by myself. Im 39 too.. It's a thing you are not alone 💙 & I'm not grieving the baby stage I'm sure, it has felt very much hormonal/chemical for me..