What happens to your body when you quit breastfeeding?

The Transition from Breastfeeding: What Happens to Your Body
Quitting breastfeeding is a significant transition for both mother and child, and it brings about a series of physical and emotional changes. Understanding these changes can help mothers navigate this period more smoothly.
Physical Changes
When a mother stops breastfeeding, her body undergoes a process known as involution. This is where the milk-producing cells in the breasts gradually die off and are replaced by fat cells. This transformation can lead to changes in breast size and shape, often resulting in a softer appearance as the fullness associated with lactation diminishes.
Hormonal shifts are also a critical aspect of this transition. As breastfeeding ceases, levels of prolactin and oxytocin—hormones that promote milk production and bonding—begin to decline. This hormonal adjustment typically occurs within six to eight weeks after stopping breastfeeding, leading to a return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels. However, this drop in hormones can also trigger feelings of sadness or anxiety, as mothers may experience a sort of emotional “comedown”.
Emotional and Psychological Effects
The emotional impact of weaning can be profound. Many mothers report feelings of loss or sadness as they transition away from breastfeeding, which has often been a source of comfort and bonding with their child. The reduction in oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone,” can contribute to these feelings, making it essential for mothers to seek support during this time.
Additionally, the process of weaning can vary significantly from one mother to another. Those who stop abruptly may experience more intense emotional and physical symptoms compared to those who gradually reduce breastfeeding. This gradual approach can help mitigate some of the emotional upheaval associated with the sudden loss of breastfeeding.
Health Considerations
From a health perspective, breastfeeding has been linked to various long-term benefits for mothers, including a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer. Therefore, the decision to stop breastfeeding should also consider these health implications.
Moreover, some mothers may find that their menstrual cycles return more quickly after weaning, which can be a sign of hormonal balance returning. However, the emotional and physical adjustments can take time, and it’s important for mothers to be patient with themselves during this transition.
Conclusion
Quitting breastfeeding is a multifaceted process that involves significant changes in both the body and mind. Understanding these changes can empower mothers to navigate this transition with greater awareness and support. Whether through gradual weaning or seeking emotional support, recognizing the journey ahead can help ease the challenges that come with this important life change.

How long does it take for your body to regulate after stopping breastfeeding?

Often your hormones settle within a few weeks and you and your child adjust to a new rhythm where breastfeeding is no longer part of your current story. These feelings of sadness and general lowness that can happen after weaning are normally temporary. Being gentle and patient with yourself is important.

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.

Will I lose weight if I stop breastfeeding?

It is it a myth that breastfeeding burns up lots of calories making milk. You will burn some stored body fat, but your body protects some fat for the purpose of breastfeeding. Many women don’t lose all the baby weight until they completely stop nursing.

What happens to my body if I don’t breastfeed?

For mothers, failure to breastfeed is associated with an increased incidence of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, retained gestational weight gain, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, and the metabolic syndrome.

Is breastfeeding hard on your body?

I’m talking wrist pain, back pain, rib pain, numbness, neck pain, tingling, tight muscles, feeling weak, breathing changes… All these changes to the musculoskeletal system and associated senorimotor cortext of the brain can start during a woman’s breastfeeding career.

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 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.”

What happens to your hormones when you stop breastfeeding?

This may occur through sadness or grief like feelings from stopping breastfeeding itself. But also the lack of the breastfeeding hormones Oxytocin, and Prolactin, in particular, can make some mums feel like they are on an emotional roller coaster for a while, maybe feeling anxious at times or even irritable.

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 physical changes after stopping breastfeeding?

Once you stop breastfeeding you may find that your breasts look and feel very empty. The size of the breasts will likely return to your pre-pregnancy size but may look quite different. The fatty part of your breast will come back over time to make the breasts look fuller and plumper again.