What happens to a womans hormones when she stops breastfeeding?

The Hormonal Shift After Breastfeeding
When a woman stops breastfeeding, her body undergoes significant hormonal changes that can affect her physical and emotional well-being. This transition is not merely a biological process; it can also be an emotional journey, as the hormonal fluctuations can influence mood and overall health.
The Role of Key Hormones
During breastfeeding, two primary hormones dominate: prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin is responsible for milk production, while oxytocin facilitates milk ejection and fosters feelings of bonding and relaxation between mother and child. As breastfeeding continues, these hormones remain elevated, suppressing the levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are crucial for regulating the menstrual cycle and overall reproductive health.
When a woman begins to wean her baby, whether gradually or abruptly, the levels of prolactin and oxytocin start to decline. This decrease can lead to a resurgence of estrogen and progesterone, typically returning to pre-pregnancy levels within six to eight weeks after stopping breastfeeding. This shift can trigger various physical and emotional symptoms as the body readjusts.
Emotional and Physical Effects
The decline in prolactin and oxytocin can lead to feelings of sadness or anxiety for some women. These hormones are associated with feelings of contentment and intimacy, so their reduction may leave some mothers feeling a sense of loss or emotional instability. Additionally, the return of estrogen can bring about physical changes, such as the resumption of menstrual cycles, which may have been absent during breastfeeding.
Women may also experience physical symptoms such as breast engorgement or tenderness as milk production ceases. This can be uncomfortable and may require careful management to ease the transition.
Supporting the Transition
Understanding these hormonal changes is crucial for women navigating the weaning process. Experts suggest that supporting mental and physical health during this time is essential. Engaging in self-care practices, maintaining a balanced diet, and seeking emotional support can help mitigate some of the challenges associated with hormonal fluctuations.
In conclusion, the cessation of breastfeeding marks a significant hormonal transition for women, characterized by the decline of prolactin and oxytocin and the resurgence of estrogen and progesterone. While this process is natural, it can bring about a range of emotional and physical changes that require attention and care.

What are the signs of low estrogen?

Signs of low estrogen include:

• Dry skin.
• Tender breasts.
• Weak or brittle bones.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Moodiness and irritability.
• Vaginal dryness or atrophy.
• Hot flashes and night sweats.
• Irregular periods or no periods (amenorrhea).

What happens to your hormones if you don’t breastfeed?

If you are breastfeeding, as you wean from it, your prolactin and oxytocin levels will drop—potentially leaving you feeling sad, anxious or irritable. These are usually short-lived, but a slow approach to weaning may help reduce adverse effects.

What happens to your mood when you stop breastfeeding?

Key Highlights. Feeling down after weaning is normal. If you’re feeling sad, irritable, or just not like yourself after stopping breastfeeding, know that you’re not alone. Many moms go through this and it’s called post-weaning depression.

What are the side effects of not breastfeeding to the mother?

Not breastfeeding or weaning prematurely is associated with health risks for mothers as well as for infants. Epidemiologic data suggest that women who do not breastfeed face higher risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, as well as obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.

Do your hormones change when you stop breastfeeding?

As breastfeeding ends, both prolactin and oxytocin levels will lower – and so may your mood and sense of wellbeing. It may last a few days, or it may go on for longer.

What happens to a woman’s body when they stop 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.”

Do you gain weight when you stop breastfeeding?

Thanks to biological and behavioral changes, it’s totally normal to gain weight when you stop breastfeeding. “It’s really common that women will stop breastfeeding and their weight goes up,” G. Thomas Ruiz, M.D., an ob/gyn at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells SELF.

What are the negative effects of not breastfeeding?

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

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 suddenly?

If you stop breastfeeding quickly, your breasts might fill with milk (engorge) and get very uncomfortable. To prevent engorged breasts, you might need to express milk sometimes. Express just enough for comfort. If you express too much, it won’t reduce your milk supply and weaning can take longer.