Written by Wendy, IBCLC.
Weaning from breastfeeding can be a time of mixed emotions and transformations in our lives as parents. But while many of us know what to expect in terms of changes with our little ones—feeding changes, routine changes, and changes in how they relate to us—many of us are caught off guard by the changes that happen to our bodies after weaning.
Sure, we expect our breasts to stop making milk, but so much more happens once we stop nursing. Let’s take a look at some of the changes that occur once breastfeeding ends.
YOUR EMOTIONS MAY SURPRISE YOU
The emotional rollercoaster you experience during weaning might take you by surprise. It’s common to feel lots of different feelings once breastfeeding ends, from relief, sadness, and irritability to joy. Often, you’ll feel all of these feelings at once. You may also notice that your feelings tend to change rapidly—in other words, mood swings are common after weaning.
Some of this has to do with the realities of weaning, including the changes in your relationship with your child and the idea that your little one is growing up and isn't so little anymore. You may also feel a new sense of freedom and autonomy now that your child isn’t relying on you in the same way for nutrition or physical comfort (though, of course, you will likely still remain physically close to your child, even after weaning).
All of these emotions are understandable and expected. Let yourself feel the feels!
But part of the emotional changes you are experiencing aren’t just circumstantial. You are going through a whole lotta hormone changes during this time.
Most notably, during breastfeeding, hormones like prolactin and oxytocin are high, but then drop after weaning. Prolactin and oxytocin are “feel good” hormones, and when they drop, you might experience increased sadness, weepiness, irritability, and even depression. This is more likely to happen if you wean quickly, which is one reason gradual weaning is recommended.
YOU MIGHT EXPERIENCE POST-WEANING DEPRESSION
The emotional states triggered by hormonal changes are normal and expected. They will pass as your body adjusts, and you will start to feel like yourself again soon. However, some parents report significant feelings of depression or anxiety after weaning. This can be from hormonal changes, but it may also have other causes.
Again, these intense feelings usually pass, but if they are lingering past a few weeks, it’s important to see a healthcare provider or licensed mental health professional to ensure that nothing else is going on and to make sure your mental health needs are addressed.
YOU'LL EXPERIENCE MENSTRUAL CYCLE CHANGES
Most of us don’t have a menstrual period during the months that we are exclusively breastfeeding. This is because breastfeeding suppresses some of the hormones of menstruation, such as estrogen and progesterone. So, if you haven’t gotten your period back yet, weaning will definitely cause it to come back.
Menstruation after weaning isn’t necessarily a linear process. You might experience long cycles at first. Your cycles may include spotting and be irregular in length. As soon as you stop breastfeeding, you should assume you are fertile again, even if your periods aren’t totally regular yet.
Likewise, even if you have gotten your period back, you might notice cycle changes. For instance, if your periods haven’t been regular yet, you might notice your cycles become even more regular than they had been while you were still nursing.
YOUR BREASTS WILL CHANGE
You will definitely notice some breast changes after weaning, though this may not happen right away. If you were nursing a baby, it may take a while for milk production to come to a halt, so your breasts may be full for some time. Either way, it takes a few months for breasts to go back to their regular size. Many of us notice that our breasts don’t really go back to pre-pregnancy size and shape … well, ever.
Still, some of the changes that happened during pregnancy will be gone. For instance, if your nipples got darker during pregnancy, they will become lighter again (though they may remain darker than they were before pregnancy). If you had little bumps on your nipples known as Montgomery glands, those will disappear. Any stretch marks you got during pregnancy will lighten.
YOU MIGHT STILL PRODUCE MILK
Most of us expect to dry up soon after weaning, but it can take several weeks for your breasts to stop producing milk. For some of us, it can take months for this process to end. And for a small group of people—especially those who’ve nursed for a long time—it’s possible to squeeze out a drop of milk for years!
Most cases of continued milk production aren’t dangerous, especially if we’re talking small drops that come out if you hand express. If you start to produce more milk after not producing any, if the milk comes out spontaneously, or if you notice any other breast changes, you should see your healthcare provider. Most cases of nipple discharge do not indicate cancer, but they can in some cases, so it’s always important to share new breast changes with your doctor.
VARIOUS OTHER CHANGES
Breastfeeding parents have reported all kinds of other odd bodily changes that occur after weaning, including an uptick in asthma symptoms, increased headaches and migraines, and changes in digestion. Unfortunately, there isn’t research about how weaning impacts conditions and symptoms like these. But when your body goes through significant hormonal shifts, your entire body is bound to be impacted.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider if you have questions about how your body is changing during weaning.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Weaning is a momentous experience for breastfeeding parents, and it often comes with some unforeseen symptoms. Weaning triggers significant emotional, hormonal, and physical changes, so it makes sense that you would experience its impacts and that some of the changes would be intense and even strange. We definitely need more research in the physiology of weaning and its health impacts so that we can understand these changes better.
Meanwhile, it can be helpful to share your experiences with other breastfeeding parents, to commiserate, and to normalize these changes. A breastfeeding professional or counselor is also a good source of support. Any concerning health changes you experience should absolutely be shared with your healthcare provider.
*This is not intended to be medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider.
