Can you get postpartum depression after you stop breastfeeding?

Understanding Postpartum Depression After Breastfeeding
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health concern that affects approximately 1 in 8 women within the first year after childbirth. While many associate PPD with the early postpartum period, it can manifest at various stages, including after a mother stops breastfeeding. This raises an important question: can the cessation of breastfeeding trigger or exacerbate postpartum depression?
The Link Between Breastfeeding and Postpartum Depression
Emerging research indicates a complex relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum depression. Studies suggest that breastfeeding may have a protective effect against PPD, with rates of depression generally being lower among breastfeeding mothers compared to those who do not breastfeed. However, the dynamics shift when breastfeeding ceases.
A longitudinal study highlighted that breastfeeding cessation is predictive of an increase in postpartum anxiety and depression. This suggests that the act of stopping breastfeeding can be a significant factor in the mental health of new mothers. The emotional and hormonal changes associated with weaning, combined with the stressors of new motherhood, can contribute to feelings of sadness or anxiety.
Symptoms and Timing
Symptoms of postpartum depression can vary widely, but they often include extreme sadness, mood swings, and feelings of loneliness. For mothers who have recently stopped breastfeeding, these symptoms may become more pronounced. Some healthcare providers have noted a phenomenon termed post-weaning depression, which can occur in the weeks or months following the cessation of breastfeeding.
It’s crucial for mothers experiencing these symptoms to seek support and communicate with healthcare providers. The transition away from breastfeeding can be emotionally challenging, and recognizing the potential for increased anxiety or depression is vital for timely intervention.
Conclusion
In summary, while breastfeeding is associated with lower rates of postpartum depression, stopping breastfeeding can indeed lead to an increase in depressive symptoms for some women. The interplay of hormonal changes, emotional adjustments, and the stresses of motherhood can create a perfect storm for mental health challenges. Therefore, it is essential for new mothers to be aware of these potential changes and to seek help if they notice signs of depression after weaning. Understanding this relationship can empower mothers to navigate their postpartum journey with greater awareness and support.

How long does it take for hormones to return after breastfeeding?

The return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels can vary greatly, but generally hormones will normalize within three to six months. If you are breastfeeding, as you wean from it, your prolactin and oxytocin levels will drop—potentially leaving you feeling sad, anxious or irritable.

Can you get depression after stopping breastfeeding?

Conclusions. Breastfeeding cessation is a risk factor for increased anxiety and depression. Women with high levels of anxiety and depression during pregnancy who stop breastfeeding early are at an additional multiplicative risk for postpartum anxiety and depression.

What are the negative effects of breastfeeding too long?

For example, duration of breastfeeding experience has been shown to correlate negatively with parent-reported antisocial and aggressive behavior in children from 4 to 11 years of age [43]. These effects on antisocial behavior appear to extend well beyond childhood into adulthood.

What are the side effects of stopping breastfeeding?

Some might experience headaches or migraines, while others feel exhausted or even dizzy immediately after weaning. Another common post-weaning issue? Acne. Big hormone changes can really throw your body for a loop.

What are the long term effects of not breastfeeding?

For infants, not being breastfed is associated with an increased incidence of infectious morbidity, as well as elevated risks of childhood obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, leukemia, and sudden infant death syndrome.

What happens when you stop breastfeeding and start again?

Restarting breastfeeding after stopping
Stopping breastfeeding does not always have to be permanent, but starting again may take a lot of time and not everyone will produce enough to meet their baby’s needs. It partly depends on how well-established your milk supply was already.

Can stopping breastfeeding cause trauma?

Gradual weaning
ruptly can be physically and emotionally traumatic for both mother and baby and is best avoided when possible. Weaning gradually over a period of weeks or months allows breastfeeding to end in a comfortable way.

What hormones drop after stopping breastfeeding?

“As women wean, the oxytocin stores start to go back to non-pregnant levels,” O’Neill says. “Oxytocin is known as the love hormone, so as it decreases you may feel sad, irritable or grumpy. Many women attribute this to fatigue, but the feeling is real and regulated by our hormones.”

Can post partum depression happen later?

Postnatal depression can start any time in the first year after giving birth. Signs that you or someone you know might be depressed include: a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood.

How long does it take to feel normal after stopping breastfeeding?

Usually, you will feel back to normal after a few weeks but if you feel like your mood is very low it is important to contact your GP or maternal child health nurse.