What is post-weaning depression? You may have heard of postpartum depression before and didn’t realise that post-weaning depression is a thing. It usually occurs right after a woman has finished their breastfeeding journey. And the feeling of depression is quite common.
You might think that after months of enduring the pains and stress of breastfeeding, weaning your baby off your boob and getting them used to drinking milk through a bottle is going to be a relief. No more uncomfortable positions. No more wearing soaked bras and tops. This time should be incredibly refreshing for you.
However, that is just not the case for some women. Relief to them post-weaning is not instantaneous. Instead, they feel guilt, irritability, and lack of motivation. This is what post-weaning depression is. And, you need to be able to identify the signs to help you address this kind of depression before it gets worse.
In this article, we will tackle all the need-to-know information about post-weaning depression.
Postpartum Depression vs. Post-Weaning Depression
So, how do you know if what you’re going through is post-weaning depression? You can easily mistake it for postpartum depression because of the similarities in their symptoms, but the experience is quite different.
Let’s discuss their similarities first. In both kinds of cases, women may feel sadness, hopelessness, irritability, and lack of motivation. Another similarity is the fact that they are pretty common among women.
One major difference between the two is that postpartum depression can become more severe.
Apart from feeling sad, hopeless, and demotivated, women with postpartum depression also have thoughts of self-harm. For this reason, health professionals are more attentive to the symptoms of postpartum depression in order to prevent more severe symptoms to come up and to prescribe the right type of treatment.
Experts also have several tests to confirm whether a woman is going through postpartum depression, while post-weaning depression symptoms are merely observed.
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Since post-weaning depression appears to be less severe and lasts for a much shorter time, the solution for it is often just mere coping strategies or letting it pass.
Finally, the biggest difference between the two is when they occur. You usually have postpartum depression if you experience the symptoms a few months after giving birth. And, then you have post-weaning depression a few days or a week after stopping breastfeeding.
Symptoms of Post-Weaning Depression
So, of course, the difference between postpartum depression and post-weaning depression shouldn’t be the only thing you need to take note of. You also should be able to identify its different symptoms, which are:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling extra weepy and sensitive
- Grief
- Guilt
- Irritability
- Lack of interest in activities that you used to enjoy
- Lack of motivation
- Mood swings
Some women say that post-weaning depression is somewhat like really bad PMS. So, if you have these symptoms after a few days or a week after taking your baby off breastfeeding, you may have post-weaning depression.
Causes of Post-Weaning Depression
This type of depression occurs for many reasons. So, if you experience any of them, the following may be the reasons why you are having them:
Back when you were still breastfeeding, your body releases prolactin and oxytocin, which are what experts refer to as “happy hormones.” So, when you stop breastfeeding, such happy hormones are no longer hanging around in your system. So, you really will tend to feel less happy and more sad and depressed.
Breastfeeding temporarily stops your menstruation. So, when you stop breastfeeding, the red tide comes back. And, since its release has been put on hold, its arrival will most likely be a tidal wave as well.
Being a woman yourself, you know your red days are when your patience is often very low and your mood is most likely unforgiving. The good thing is, like your regular period, such feelings of impatience and frustration will eventually pass.
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Ending the breastfeeding journey is somewhat like an end of an era. For months, you have taken pride in overcoming all the challenges that come with breastfeeding. And, so, when that time finally comes to an end, there is that feeling of momentary sadness because you no longer have those glory days.
Finally, another cause of post-weaning depression is the feeling of guilt. No matter how many times your OB assures you that you can wean your baby off of the nipples, you’re going to feel guilty. There is going to be that nagging feeling that you are not giving them the nutrition they’ll need from breastfeeding.
Some mums feel they are not ready to wean. So, when you advise them to do away with the boob, they feel forced and feel guilty because they didn’t breastfeed for as long as they can.
Coping With Post-Weaning Depression
If post-weaning depression really cannot be avoided, here are things that you can do to help manage it:
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Since your body is going to change after weaning, you want to cushion such changes with extra preparation. Eating a well-balanced diet and getting regular exercise will help strengthen your body during this time of change.
2. Speak up
A lot of women who experience post-weaning depression refuse to speak up about their struggles because they do not want to become burdens to their partners or whoever it is that they trust. So, they hide their true feelings. Hiding is not going to relieve all of the mental pressure that you have been keeping. So, do not hesitate to share.
3. Seek help
If and when things get out of control and you really need help, seek a professional. Your partner, family, and friends can only do so much. So, when you recognise that you need help, ask for it.
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How to Prevent Post-Weaning Depression
We now know why it happens. How can you now prevent it from happening? If you try any of these tips, you might be able to avoid post-weaning depression.
When you wean is entirely your decision. So, if your health provider or relative advises you that you can already start weaning, don’t let the pressure push you into weaning before you’re ready. Weigh the pros and cons. It has to feel right before you decide to finally wean. So that when you do, you won’t have feelings of guilt or frustration.
Once you do decide to wean, don’t go cold turkey. Do it gradually instead. So, instead of 4 feeding sessions today, do 3 this entire week. Then two the week after. And so on and so forth. Doing so not only prevents post-weaning depression but also helps keep your hormone levels stable.
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Keep the skin-on-skin connection
If the feeling of not having your infant close to you is the reason why you feel guilty or feel frustrated, don’t worry. You may not be able to breastfeed your baby, but you can still keep giving them kangaroo care. Keep the skin-to-skin connection going by snuggling, caressing, and even massaging your baby. Doing so helps relieve some of the guilt that you feel.
There you have it. Should you find yourself presenting with the symptoms said in this article, try the tips we included. And, if those don’t work, call the attention of a medical professional.
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
