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mrs.wildman
member
s/o bf'ing and sadness - weaning and sadness?
mrs.wildman
member
Just wondering if anyone experienced ppd-ish depression / anxiety when weaning? I'm holding on to *hopefully* make it to a year, but not sure if my supply will allow for that. The pedi said I can introduce milk at 11.5 months, but I might have to start supplementing formula in the interim. Part of me is ready to close this chapter, but as soon as I pick up the can of formula at the store, I feel tears coming on and set it down. I have a feeling that when I wean I'm going to fall into a slump and wondering/hoping if this is common?
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Re: s/o bf'ing and sadness - weaning and sadness?
I didn't make it quite that far (about 8 months each time) but I did feel pretty sad about the whole thing even though I felt it was the right thing for me to do at the time. Even some the people I know who hated breastfeeding still felt sad when it was over.
If you just don't wanna do the formula bit, we can suggest everything we know about upping supply. I'm sure you've read them all but maybe seeing them all again will give you a couple of things to try and then you can make it to whatever your goal was (a year right?)
I just started supplementing with formula this weekend to try to stretch out my stash to make it to a year. My supply has completely tanked and BFing is becoming exhausting. I tried for awhile to get my supply back up, but its just not budging.
See, I was never one who loved BFing, so take me with a grain of salt, I was just doing it because I think its best, not because its a bonding or anything like that.
But I died a little inside opening the can of formula and mixing up a couple ounces. DD has not had a drop of formula since her first week of life and she is a happy, healthy, thriving, baby and it has been all my doing. I've been so proud of that.
It comforts me though knowing that DD still loves me and still smiled at me as she drank her bottle and the bm/formula didn't seem to phase her. Even though BFing was never easy for us, it was a struggle the first few months and even after we got the hang of it, we still had rough days here and there. Had I not gotten pregnant, I would probably be still making plenty of milk and I just keep telling myself that its no ones fault my supply has tanked, it just means my body is trying to support another life now and that DD has had a fantastic enough start.
Ten/Eleven months is a lot longer than a lot of people BF so you've still done so good mama. You don't have to completely stop either. We're taking this weaning thing slow and easy but I'm pretty much down to only morning nursing now.
{{hugs}} It gets easier.
Dx with endo & blocked left tube - TTC #1 for 29 cycles before miracle BFP, #2 - Surprise!!
My TTC/PG blog / Panda Phenomenon Explained
I think it is fairly common. I felt sad with my first, even though I was very ready to be done. And while part of me is jumping for joy at the idea of the freedom I'll gain when I wean this one, another part of me is sad to have that chapter ending.
I also have a good friend who had PPD that didn't manifest itself until she weaned at a year with both of her kids. Luckily her sister is an OB and helped her identify the problem, but I don't think a lot of women realize you can get PPD at that point, so also something to watch out for.