7 Tips To Deal With Post-Weaning Depression

7 Tips To Deal With Post-Weaning Depression

15 Jul 2022 | 4 min Read

Sayani Basu

Author | 607 Articles

Motherhood can be filled with countless emotions. From postpartum depression to new parent syndrome, life takes a 360-degree turn. Similarly, post-weaning depression is a mood disorder that nursing mums experience once they begin to wean their babies off breastfeeding.

When a baby moves from the mother’s breast milk to other sources of nourishment, it is called weaning and the process takes patience and understanding from both you and your child. 

It is the process of slowly putting a stop to breastfeeding, and gradually incorporating other foods into the diet of your child. Since weaning can be a complex and emotional process, some mums even experience depression as they wean. Here are some tips to deal with post-weaning depression.

Causes Of Post-Weaning Depression

  1. After feeding your baby for months, putting a stop to the process of breastfeeding can be emotionally challenging for you. Plus, it isn’t easy to say ‘no’ to your baby.

Therefore, refusing to offer breast milk to your wailing child, can make you feel terrible.

  1. Hormones play an important role too as the entire period of pregnancy and motherhood drives your hormones into a frenzy.
  1. When you breastfeed your child, your body secretes oxytocin, a feel-good hormone that is particularly responsible.

Oxytocin is also responsible for triggering a bond and a feeling of affection towards your baby, during the breastfeeding activity as well.

  1. Prolactin, a milk-making hormone is another hormone that is secreted while breastfeeding your baby. It can trigger feelings of relaxation in the nursing mum too.

However, when you stop breastfeeding your baby, it can confuse your brain and thus lead to post-weaning depression.

Tips to Deal With Post-Weaning Depression

Here are some of the tips to deal with post-weaning depression:

  1. Accept your situation: You need to accept the fact that you are suffering from a mood disorder. If you don’t accept it, it is all the more difficult to deal with. It will be easier for you to beat it.
what causes post-weaning depression
Don’t let post-weaning depression create a barrier between you and the little one. | Image Source: pexels
  1. Try medication: Hormones play a vital role in causing post-weaning depression. However, it is not something you cannot beat.

You can consult a doctor and take medications that can reverse the negative effects of hormonal fluctuations and improve your condition. Your doctor can prescribe certain medications to help bring your body back to your normal self.

  1. Increase your intake of nutritional supplements: Your body needs nutrients like zinc and omega-3. These nutrients can in turn help reduce the level of stress-inducing hormones in your body.
  1. Don’t fight it alone: The feeling of being alone is one of the most dominant thoughts a depressed person goes through. The same goes for post-weaning depression.

However, bring these emotions out and talk your heart out with your partner, sibling, parent, or friends. Talking to them about your feelings will make you feel better.

  1. Go easy on yourself: You might have feelings of self-loathing and worthlessness during the post-weaning depression.

But you need to know and believe the Persian adage, “This too shall pass.”

You need to believe that you are a strong individual who can fight your way through the toughest of situations.

  1. Try acupuncture: You can try acupuncture as this form of therapy might work the best for you. It involves the insertion of thin needles into pressure points and is aimed at reducing stress levels.
how to help post-weaning depression
Yoga calms your mind and helps to deal with post-weaning depression. | Image Source: pexels
  1. Exercise: Exercise can do wonders for our body throughout pregnancy and even after your delivery.

It is advisable to consult a doctor and start exercising as it can calm your mind. There’s no need to try out a vigorous regime right away. Yoga, aerobics, or low-intensity Zumba can help for sure during this time.

Post-weaning depression generally lasts for only about two weeks. It begins once you start weaning your baby. Your hormones will gradually begin to stabilise and they will fall into a more regularised routine.

You need to stay positive and believe in yourself and don’t hesitate to ask for help. You should always keep in mind that you are strong enough to fight your way through this phase.

DISCLAIMER: We have taken steps to check the accuracy of the information & practices shared above; however, it is not a replacement for a doctor’s opinion. Please check with either your doctor, or an expert, before trying any suggestion, practice, or medication mentioned here.

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