Weaning is not just about milk.
It is emotional.
It is hormonal.
It is physical.
It is the ending of a relationship that only you and your baby fully understand.
And yet, so many mothers are completely unprepared for how weaning can feel.
One day you are breastfeeding multiple times a day, your body involved in every nap, every comfort, every night waking.
And then slowly, or suddenly, it changes.
Your breasts change.
Your hormones shift.
Your baby asks less.
Your identity wobbles.
You may feel relief and grief at the same time.
This is normal.
Weaning can bring mood changes, sadness, anxiety, irritability, tenderness, insomnia, hormonal dips and a strange feeling of emptiness.
Not for everyone.
But for many.
And because nobody talks about it, mothers often feel blindsided.
They think, “Why am I crying? I wanted my body back.”
But both can be true.
You can want your body back and grieve the end of breastfeeding.
You can be ready and still feel sad.
You can feel free and lost at the same time.
This is motherhood.
Layer upon layer.
If you are weaning, go gently where you can.
Drop feeds slowly if possible.
Support your nervous system.
Eat enough protein.
Keep blood sugar steady.
Drink mineral-rich teas.
Make space for the emotions.
Ask someone to check in on you.
And most importantly, do not dismiss what you are feeling.
Weaning is a transition.
And mothers need support during transitions.
Not only when babies are born.