Uncomplicated Momming

The postpartum experience no one prepared me for

Everyone knows pregnancy is hard. Giving birth? Wild—whether it’s a vaginal delivery or a C-section (been there, done that).

We talk a little about the 6-12 weeks after birth. Maybe we even get asked how we’re doing at our six-week OB checkup. But what no one talks about—and I mean no one—is weaning from breastfeeding.

I exclusively pumped for 14 months. That added up to somewhere over 10,000 ounces and hundreds of hours of my life. (If you want the full story, I wrote about my exclusive pumping journey here.)

And I wouldn’t change that part for the world.
But no one warned me about what it would feel like to stop.

Just because I was mentally ready to be done, doesn’t mean my body was.

Weaning Isn’t a Switch You Flip

Five weeks after I started weaning, my breasts still feel full. Not painfully engorged—but enough to remind me my body hasn’t quite gotten the memo.

On top of that? I’ve had headaches, heartburn, and waves of nausea that rival the first trimester. My hormones are clearly working overtime to rebalance—and it is not a graceful transition.

But When I Asked My Providers…

Both my PCP and OB waved off the symptoms. “It’s unlikely this is related to weaning,” they said.

Really? Because every mom group I’m in says otherwise. Google says otherwise. And my body? She’s definitely saying otherwise.

Why are we still minimizing postpartum symptoms just because they’re inconvenient to explain?

Breastfeeding Has Real Benefits—But Weaning Deserves More Attention

Let’s be clear: extended breastfeeding (or pumping) is beneficial. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding for 12+ months is linked to lower risks of infections, asthma, obesity, and even SIDS (source).

It’s also good for moms, with lower rates of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

But where’s the research on weaning? What about the symptoms that come from the hormonal drop-off of prolactin and oxytocin? The body aches, night sweats, nausea, and mood swings?

Why is it that Google and Reddit are often more validating than our own doctors?

Hormonal Freefall Is Real

Weaning is essentially another hormonal shift—some call it a “mini postpartum.” It’s not officially recognized as a medical phase, but maybe it should be.

According to La Leche League, when you stop breastfeeding or pumping, your body downshifts prolactin and oxytocin, and estrogen and progesterone slowly rebalance. This can cause:

• Headaches
• Mood changes
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Breast discomfort

In other words—everything I’m experiencing.

Right now, I’m managing symptoms with Prilosec, Tums, and a neurologist-recommended combo of magnesium and vitamin B2. That’s the best I’ve got, because honestly? I don’t have extra money lying around for a naturopath who isn’t covered by insurance. Not with 1-year-old twins.

But the truth is—I shouldn’t have to go looking for alternative medicine to feel seen.

Where’s Emily Oster When You Need Her?

Honestly, maybe Emily Oster over at Parent Data needs to do a study on this. Because if enough of us are saying, “Hey, I feel like I’m back in the first trimester while I try to dry up milk I no longer want to produce,” maybe there’s something worth digging into.

Until then, I’ll keep managing. And writing about it. Because if no one else is talking about it, maybe one of us should be.

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Uncomplicated Takeaway:
Weaning is physical, emotional, and hormonal. If it feels like your body is on a rollercoaster—you’re not broken. You’re normal. It’s just that no one told us this part was coming.