Why do I feel depressed when I breastfeed?

Understanding the Emotional Response to Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is often portrayed as a natural and joyful experience, one that fosters a deep bond between mother and child. However, for some mothers, the act can evoke feelings of depression or sadness. This emotional response can be surprising and distressing, leaving many to question the source of these feelings.
Hormonal Fluctuations
One of the primary reasons mothers may feel depressed while breastfeeding is due to hormonal fluctuations. During breastfeeding, the body releases hormones such as oxytocin, which is known to promote bonding and relaxation. However, breastfeeding can also lead to a significant drop in estrogen and progesterone levels. These hormonal changes can affect mood and emotional well-being, leading to feelings of sadness or anxiety.
Physical Discomfort and Fatigue
Another contributing factor is the physical discomfort and fatigue that often accompany breastfeeding. Many mothers experience pain from latching issues, engorgement, or other breastfeeding-related challenges. The physical strain, combined with the demands of caring for a newborn, can lead to exhaustion. This fatigue can exacerbate feelings of depression, making it difficult for mothers to enjoy the breastfeeding experience fully.
Psychological Factors
Psychologically, new mothers face a multitude of pressures. The transition to motherhood can be overwhelming, with significant shifts in identity, lifestyle, and responsibilities. If a mother is already struggling with postpartum depression or anxiety, the added stress of breastfeeding can intensify these feelings. The pressure to breastfeed successfully can also create a sense of inadequacy if challenges arise, leading to further emotional distress.
Social Support and Expectations
The societal expectations surrounding breastfeeding can also play a role in a mother’s emotional state. In many cultures, there is a strong emphasis on breastfeeding as the ideal feeding method, which can create feelings of guilt or shame if a mother struggles with it. This pressure can lead to feelings of isolation, especially if a mother feels she lacks support from her partner, family, or friends.
Conclusion
Feeling depressed while breastfeeding is a complex issue influenced by hormonal changes, physical discomfort, psychological pressures, and social expectations. It’s important for mothers experiencing these feelings to seek support, whether through professional counseling or connecting with other mothers who may share similar experiences. Understanding that these feelings are not uncommon can help in addressing them, allowing mothers to find joy in the breastfeeding journey as they navigate the challenges of new motherhood.

How to mentally cope with breastfeeding?

Coping with the emotional challenges of breastfeeding

1. Get personalized lactation advice. Meeting with a lactation expert can help ease your mind when it comes to breastfeeding challenges.
2. Attend a breastfeeding support group.
3. Pursue counseling for maternal mental health.

Why does breastfeeding make me feel sad?

A small percentage of women respond to breastfeeding hormones with a sudden onset of feeling sad, angry, homesick, or anxious. Often identified at D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex), this condition is thought to be caused by the rise in prolactin levels, which briefly competes with and reduces dopamine levels.

Why don’t I enjoy breastfeeding anymore?

It is not uncommon to have negative feelings around breastfeeding. Breastfeeding / Nursing Aversion and Agitation (BAA) – this is more around the whole of breastfeeding/pumping and can last longer but usually go away when you are not thinking about nursing or actually nursing. Hope that helps! Cheers!

Can breastfeeding hormones make you depressed?

In 2014 the journal Maternal and Child Health published a study looking at breastfeeding and maternal depression. It found that mothers who planned to breastfeed and went on to do so were around 50% less likely to become depressed than mothers who had planned to, and did not, breastfeed1.

Why is it so hard emotionally to stop breastfeeding?

Hormones also contribute to feelings of sadness and depression during weaning. Prolactin, the hormone that is required for milk production, and oxytocin, which is responsible for the release of milk through let downs, both help calm and relax mothers and contribute to feelings of love.

Is it normal to hate the feeling of breastfeeding?

Depression or other negative emotions upon milk let-down (D-MER) Whilst not enjoying breastfeeding all the time, or developing nursing aversion is very common, a small number of women experience far stronger negative emotions when breastfeeding. This is called Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex, or D-MER.

How to pull yourself out of a depressive episode?

Try these coping strategies if you’re feeling depressed.

1. Stay in touch. Don’t withdraw from life.
2. Be more active. Take up some form of exercise.
3. Face your fears. Don’t avoid the things you find difficult.
4. Don’t drink too much alcohol. For some people, alcohol can become a problem.
5. Try to eat a healthy diet.
6. Have a routine.

When does postpartum depression start?

Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth. But they may begin earlier — during pregnancy — or later — up to a year after birth. Postpartum depression symptoms may include: Depressed mood or severe mood swings.

What is dysregulated breastfeeding?

Because a vigorous sucking pattern without stopping is a new descriptor for a dysregulated breastfeeding pattern, this study has identified a behavior that—if future research is supportive—care providers and lactation specialists should assess.

How long does it take for hormones to balance 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.