Originally published in Medium
Post-weaning depression is a real phenomenon. Many of my breastfeeding patients experience ‘blues’ after weaning. They sometimes feel sad, anxious, or irritable. This can be due to the hormonal shift, nostalgia, or the adjustment in your relationship with your child.
One way to honor these feelings is to give yourself time to process it, rather than moving on with life business as usual. You can treat it like a small mourning process. It’s the end of one phase and the beginning of a new one. Be with the impermanence of it all.
If you’re struggling, gift yourself in a few important ways: eat nutrient-rich foods, get to bed early so you can get more sleep, and outsource household chores wherever you can manage.
The good news is that post-weaning mood changes generally only lasts a few weeks. If it continues, let that be a reason to seek help.
Photo: Peter van Agtmael
