What hormones are released when you stop breastfeeding?

The Hormonal Shift After Breastfeeding
When a mother decides to stop breastfeeding, her body undergoes significant hormonal changes that can affect both her physical and emotional well-being. The primary hormones involved in breastfeeding are prolactin and oxytocin, both of which play crucial roles in milk production and maternal bonding.
Decline of Prolactin and Oxytocin
As breastfeeding decreases or ceases altogether, the levels of prolactin and oxytocin in the body begin to drop. Prolactin is responsible for stimulating milk production, while oxytocin facilitates the milk ejection reflex and promotes feelings of calm and bonding between mother and child. The reduction of these hormones can lead to feelings of anxiety or emotional instability, akin to a “comedown,” as mothers may experience a loss of the calming effects these hormones provide.
Rise of Estrogen and Progesterone
In contrast, as prolactin and oxytocin levels decline, the body starts to increase the production of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are typically associated with the menstrual cycle and reproductive health. The rise in estrogen can lead to the return of menstrual cycles for mothers who had not resumed them during breastfeeding. This hormonal shift can also influence mood and physical sensations, as the body adjusts to a new hormonal balance.
Emotional and Physical Impacts
The transition away from breastfeeding can be emotionally challenging. The decrease in oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone,” can lead to feelings of sadness or loss, as mothers may miss the intimate bonding experience that breastfeeding provides. Additionally, the hormonal fluctuations can result in physical symptoms such as breast engorgement or discomfort as the body adjusts to the absence of breastfeeding.
Supporting the Transition
Understanding these hormonal changes can help mothers navigate the weaning process more smoothly. It is essential to support both the emotional and physical aspects of this transition. Engaging in self-care practices, seeking support from friends or family, and allowing time for emotional adjustment can be beneficial.
In summary, stopping breastfeeding triggers a complex interplay of hormonal changes, primarily involving the decline of prolactin and oxytocin and the rise of estrogen and progesterone. These shifts can significantly impact a mother’s emotional and physical state, making awareness and support during this transition crucial.

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.

How long does it take for prolactin levels to drop after stopping breastfeeding?

As long as your baby maintains suckling, prolactin levels stay elevated. During periods when you’re not breastfeeding, your prolactin levels decrease, and milk production reduces. If a person doesn’t breastfeed their baby, prolactin levels fall to non-pregnant levels after one to two weeks.

What happens to my hormones when I 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 is the aftermath of stopping breastfeeding?

Even for those who are happy to be done breastfeeding or pumping, the days after weaning can be an emotional time. Some mamas feel tearful, sad or mildly depressed after their baby is done nursing. Others may feel irritable, anxious or moody.

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 are the signs of low progesterone?

Symptoms of low progesterone in people who aren’t pregnant include:

• Irregular menstrual periods.
• Headaches.
• Difficulty conceiving.
• Mood changes, anxiety or depression.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Hot flashes.
• Bloating or weight gain.

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 happens if you stop breastfeeding suddenly?

If you suddenly stop nursing your baby, your body continues to produce milk. A good way of slowing milk production gradually is to pump or hand express just enough milk at regular intervals to avoid discomfort. In this way milk production will slowly decrease.

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.

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.”