Why You Feel Worse After Weaning, Even If You’re Months Postpartum
Why You Might Feel Worse After Weaning: It’s Not All In Your Head
Have you recently stopped breastfeeding, or maybe it’s been months or even years postpartum, and you're feeling... off? You might be sweating all the time, experiencing heart palpitations, struggling with sleep, feeling anxious, and your body just aches. You might even be wondering: Do I need medication for this? Or perhaps you've already tried medication and felt like it didn’t work.
If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and no, you’re not imagining things.
In this post (and the video linked below), we’re diving into what’s really going on with your hormones after childbirth—especially around the time you stop breastfeeding—and why these symptoms are showing up now.
My Own Experience with Post-Weaning Anxiety
When I was breastfeeding my twins, I lasted just three weeks. I remember staring out the window of my second-floor apartment, thinking, If I don’t stop breastfeeding, I may never feel like myself again. That same night, I couldn’t sleep. The insomnia didn’t last a few days or even weeks, it stretched into years and continued well into perimenopause.
It wasn’t until then that I truly learnt how to metabolise my hormones and understand what was really happening in my body. That journey is what I want to share with you so you can start feeling more balanced and whole sooner.
Why You Might Feel Worse After Weaning
One word: hormones.
When you stop breastfeeding, your body undergoes major hormonal shifts. Cortisol (the stress hormone) and estrogen spike, and this often results in low progesterone, the calming hormone that helps us sleep, stay emotionally stable, and feel well.
This hormonal imbalance is what leads to the anxiety, insomnia, body aches, and emotional overwhelm that many mothers experience. And it’s especially intense if you’ve just weaned.
Postpartum Cortisol Levels
Cortisol: The Stress Hormone That Steals Your Calm
Cortisol can suppress progesterone, which is why calming your nervous system is one of the first and most important steps in feeling better.
And calming your nervous system doesn’t have to mean massages or spa days. Often, it starts with your thoughts:
What are your thoughts about your role as a mother?
About your body?
What about your partner?
About money?
These thoughts matter. They affect your hormones. That’s why practices like EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) can be powerful; it helps you uncover and shift the subconscious patterns that might be triggering you daily.
Herbs for Hormonal Support (With Caution)
A lot of moms ask me about ashwagandha, a calming adaptogen that can help lower cortisol and support better sleep. It’s helpful, but timing and dosage matter, especially if your baby is younger than three months. Their liver is still developing, so introduce herbs slowly and watch for any adverse reactions (changes in digestion, skin, or sleep).
Start with gentle approaches:
Herbal teas
Tiny amounts of tinctures or powders
One new thing at a time
Estrogen Dominance: The Other Half of the Story
When estrogen is high and not being metabolised properly, it can cause:
Constipation
Breast tenderness
Insomnia
Anxiety and mood swings
A sense of “rage” or pent-up energy
This is known as estrogen dominance, and it often goes hand in hand with low progesterone.
To balance estrogen, you need to make sure your body is eliminating it properly. One of the most important ways we do that? Pooping.
Yes—daily elimination (ideally 2–3 banana-shaped bowel movements per day) is crucial to flushing out excess hormones. If that’s not happening, you may need more fibre, more hydration, or to look at what you’re emotionally and physically “holding on to.”
Supporting Progesterone Naturally
Once you’ve started reducing cortisol and metabolising estrogen, you may also want to support progesterone production. One common herb is Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry)—but be careful.
If your estrogen is too low, Vitex may worsen depression or anxiety. I’ve been there—a well-meaning doctor gave me 5 ml of Vitex while I was battling postpartum insomnia and depression, and it sent me spiralling into suicidal thoughts. So if you try Vitex, consider a blended formula or work with a qualified herbalist. Not all supplements work the same for everyone.
Start Where You Are
So here’s what we’re addressing:
Lowering cortisol by calming the nervous system
Supporting healthy estrogen metabolism
Naturally raising or balancing progesterone
Honoring where you are, without judgment
Because you’re not broken. You’re not crazy. You’re simply postpartum, and your hormones are still shifting, whether it’s been months or even years.
xo
