Can Breastfeeding Affect Your Mental Health?

The way breastfeeding affects your mental health is complicated, according to a 2020 review. The effects depend on many factors, including:

• the way you intended to feed your child
• if you struggle with supply issues
• if you or your baby has a medical condition that makes breastfeeding difficult or not recommended
• the amount of support you have at home and at work
• the pressure some new parents may feel from the “breast is best” movement

Physiological responses can also impact the mental health of a breastfeeding parent.

Positive effects

Breastfeeding can not only be an opportunity for bonding, but it can also boost confidence in your parenting skills.

Breastfeeding your baby can be especially positive for mental wellness if you:

• breastfeed your baby exclusively for at least the first 6 months
• continue to breastfeed for a year
• have enough breastmilk supply
• have support both at home and at work

Breastfeeding releases a chemical called oxytocin. It can cause you to feel less stressed and promote a state of calm. Oxytocin can also help you bond with your baby and boost feelings of affection between you and your child.

Negative effects

On the other hand, if you want to breastfeed but find you can’t for any reason, it may have a negative effect on your mental health.

Some breastfeeding parents deal with a state of intense dysphoria immediately after breastfeeding. This is known as dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D-MER). D-MER may be related to the body’s reaction to hormones released by breastfeeding.

Dysphoria is characterized by general:

• unhappiness
• uneasiness
• frustration

While 2018 case studies indicate that these emotions typically go away quickly after the baby finishes eating, some parents may dread these feelings.

Breastfeeding can have mental health benefits for you and your baby.

For the breastfeeding parent

Psychological benefits for the breastfeeding parent can include:

• increased feelings of affection
• bonding with your baby
• reduced physiological and social stress

For babies

For the baby, psychological benefits from breastfeeding can include:

• better cognitive performance
• less fussiness during infancy
• lowered levels of stress and avoidance behaviors
• lower risk of severe depression in adulthood

While breastfeeding may have some psychological benefits, more research on the complexities of the breastfeeding relationship is needed to improve support.

Some parents may find that breastfeeding can contribute to feeling:

• depressed
• overwhelmed
• anxious

If you find that this is true for you, remember these feelings don’t make you a bad parent.

Postpartum depression (PPD) and breastfeeding

There may be a complex connection between breastfeeding and postpartum depression (PPD).

A 2014 study links postpartum depression with parental intention and ability to breastfeed. Researchers found that parents who wanted to breastfeed and were able to had the lowest rates of PPD, but those who wanted to breastfeed but weren’t able to had the highest.

Another study from 2016 describes how postpartum depression may contribute to a person deciding to stop breastfeeding early. Several factors can contribute to stress and depression for the breastfeeding parent.

Pressure to breastfeed and postpartum depression

The pressure to breastfeed may also play a role in postpartum depression.

Medical professionals and organizations, such as the World Health Organization, often cite the benefits of breastfeeding. But when breastfeeding doesn’t work out, hearing “breast is best” continuously can contribute to feelings of:

• depression
• guilt
• inadequacy

Milk supply issues

The pressure surrounding breastfeeding doesn’t end at the pressure to breastfeed alone. You may feel stress and pressure over milk supply difficulties.

Many parents stress about increasing their milk production. This may be especially true for parents of babies who are gaining weight slowly.

Sleep deprivation

If you’re exclusively breastfeeding your baby, you likely aren’t getting a lot of sleep.

Being sleep-deprived can increase the chances of developing postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. Sleep deprivation can also worsen depression and anxiety, in general.

When you start weaning your baby, you may experience mental health changes that can range from mild to more severe.

How it affects parents

As you stop breastfeeding, you may also experience a change in hormone levels. The changes in hormone levels can trigger:

• anxiety
• depression
• mood changes
• sadness

You may feel like your baby no longer needs you, and you may feel a sense of loss due to the change.

How it affects babies

Breastfeeding provides emotional support to your baby. While you feed them, they get cuddled, which helps them feel safe and secure.

As you wean your baby, they may experience some stress if they don’t get as much cuddle time. To help alleviate your baby’s stress, consider:

• rocking your baby more
• giving them a pacifier
• doing skin-to-skin contact
• creating a new bedtime routine
• giving them a teething ring
• distracting them during times that they want to nurse

Intentional weaning

You may choose to wean intentionally instead of waiting for cues that your baby is ready to move on from breastfeeding.

Some reasons breastfeeding parents might choose to intentionally wean include:

• persistent nipple pain
• low milk supply
• difficulty with infant latch
• societal factors, such as limited access to paid maternity leave or barriers to breastfeeding and pumping milk at work
• postpartum depression (PPD)
• concerns about the effects of certain medications on their babies, especially antidepressants
• body dysmorphia and concerns about how breastfeeding might affect their body

Baby-led weaning

The term “baby-led weaning” describes responding to behavioral cues from your baby that they may be developmentally ready to stop or slow down nursing and transition to eating solid or pureed foods.

Baby-led weaning may have benefits for your baby and family. For example, it can:

• help your baby learn developmental skills around eating, such as self-regulation around fullness and motor skills
• introduce your baby to diverse foods, tastes, and textures
• save time and money
• help your child learn social skills, such as eating together at family mealtimes
• be fun for babies to explore foods

Many pediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is 6 months old to begin baby-led weaning, but this largely depends on your child’s development and readiness.

Signs your baby may be ready for baby-led weaning include:

• sitting up without support
• reaching for objects and bringing them to their mouth
• showing interest in foods
• grabbing or reaching for food
• making chewing movements

In general, weaning your baby from breastfeeding is a safe process.

If you’re replacing breast milk with other drinks and with solid foods, your baby will not likely have any issues with getting enough food and water. Reducing breast milk slowly can help with this transition and prevent any physical effects.

Consider contacting your pediatrician if your baby’s sleep cycle is disrupted for 1 or more weeks after weaning, or if your baby is not wetting and soiling diapers as frequently.

For moms, reducing breastfeeding gradually and slowly can help prevent:

• breast engorgement
• blocked milk ducts
• mastitis

Breastfeeding can lead to several mental health issues, including:

• anxiety
• depression
• increased stress

If you find yourself struggling with some of these complications, the following tips may be helpful.

Try to ignore criticism

From strangers to family members, many will offer their opinion — and criticism — on what’s best for your baby.

If you face regular criticism over breastfeeding, try to focus on what you know. This can help reinforce the reasons you chose to do it in the first place.

If you feel comfortable, you may find that educating your friends and family about the reasoning behind the feeding choices for your baby can help stop criticism.

Lifestyle changes to manage stress

You may feel a lot more stress when breastfeeding. Leaning into some lifestyle changes to manage stress may help, such as:

• taking a break, like walking away for a few minutes when you feel frustrated or asking for help when you need it
• exercising when it’s safe
• practicing deep-breathing exercises
• talking to friends, family, and other supports in your life

Sleeping when your baby does

Sleep deprivation can be a serious problem when you’re breastfeeding. But you can take steps to help mitigate exhaustion, like:

• sleeping when your baby does
• putting off some chores
• asking for help from your partner, family, or friends

Guilt-free zone

If breastfeeding your baby isn’t working out for any reason, give yourself permission to not feel guilty.

A pediatrician or your obstetrician can recommend a formula, as well as how to safely supplement or formula-feed your baby, so they get the nutrition they need.

Breastfeeding can be a positive experience for you and your baby. However, there’s no shame if you’re struggling with:

• depression
• anxiety
• sleep deprivation
• other negative feelings surrounding the experience

Remember, if breastfeeding makes you feel depressed or anxious, it’s okay to take care of yourself first. Getting help for your mental health is beneficial for you and your whole family, including your baby.

If you or your baby is having trouble with breastfeeding in any way — including negatively affecting your mental wellness or triggering PPD — consider reaching out to your doctor, pediatrician, or therapist.

Check out Psych Central’s guide to seeking mental health help if you don’t know where to begin.

Your therapist, doula, or OB-GYN can also help connect you with a certified lactation consultant who can guide you through breastfeeding and weaning. If you’re in the United States, you can also use Breastfeeding USA to find a consultant.

If you prefer a support group, you can consider asking your doctor or doula for information on local breastfeeding and parenting support groups.