My Journey of Weaning My Son
Michelle Markman ?????
Neurodiversity Executive Coach | Neurodiversity Advocate & Community Builder | Public Speaking | Content Creation | Senior Manager CX Operations- QA, Training & Development
Recently, I have been experiencing a series of transitions, including the weaning of my son. I am a "late breastfeeding mom," which means I breastfed closer to the worldwide norm of 3-4 years than the American norm of 1 year. The emotions that accompanied weaning were surprising. While I expected to feel elated to be free from the burden and discomfort of breastfeeding, the process was far more complex than I anticipated.
The older my child grew, the more uncomfortable nursing became, and we naturally started to decrease feedings. I had mixed feelings about weaning; my initial plan was to stop when my son was ready, but as time went on, my mental and physical health had to be prioritized; I was dealing with burnout anxiety, depression, and a host of autoimmune symptoms. However, right after I weaned my son, he caught a cold, and I was filled with guilt. Usually, breastfeeding offers antibodies to combat any illness. I had recently undergone SPECT scans at the Amen Clinic to assess my mental health and address some anxiety and depression symptoms. A key aspect of these scans is that I could not breastfeed for 60 hours afterward, and I had two scans back-to-back. This left me with no choice but to wean my son.
Six days later, I found myself sobbing before bed, plagued by intrusive thoughts. It wasn't until the next morning that I connected my emotions to the weaning process. It's something many parents don't talk about enough—the post-weaning blues can evolve into full-blown weaning depression.
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It is crucial to break the silence on the challenges of motherhood. We must openly discuss the struggles and triumphs of this journey. Motherhood is often described as a miracle, but it can also be incredibly demanding.
I encourage you to share your experiences with breastfeeding, weaning, and the emotional journey that comes with them. Together, we can support each other through the highs and lows of parenting, learning and growing as we navigate this unique and beautiful journey.
#weaning #breastfeeding #motherhood #autisticmom