Connection Between Mood and Breastfeeding

After we give birth, our body goes through a drastic change. After 9 months of carrying our little nugget, they are finally here. Our body that has gotten used to caring for this new human, now has to transition into how it can sustain the baby's life when it's outside the womb.

There's no more baby in there or placenta needing nutrients and nutrition. I wouldn't say our body's needs are less per se, but they are just different now after you've given birth. For example, breastfeeding takes a lot from a mama and requires the body to do new, incredible things.

How does it do these new things? Hormonal changes.

Hormone levels take on a massive shift post-birth, which can sometimes leave your body in for a rude awakening. This is especially apparent for mamas who are sensitive to hormonal changes - due to genetic factors or just being in tune with their body.

These hormonal changes, or neuroendocrine changes, may be associated with your negative mood shifts during postpartum. *If you weren't aware, hormones play a huge role in your mental health!

However, the good news is that breastfeeding may help!

The journal for women's health published an article in 2012 about the link between failed lactation and perinatal depression. We are discovering new insights into how breastfeeding may positively impact new mamas in their postpartum recovery journey- specifically their mood if mamas get the help they need.

Mamas who wean early because of lactation difficulties such as experiencing too much pain, low milk supply, or poor latching issues, are at a higher risk for depression. Similarly, those mamas who are depressed may have more trouble with successfully breastfeeding and turn to formula feeding, worsening both issues.

However, the good news is that getting lactation support or therapy could be helpful tools in supporting mamas during this new and sometimes rough transition into motherhood.

The neuroendocrine transition (aka hormonal shifts that occur) from pregnancy to lactation may contribute to breastfeeding difficulties and perinatal mood disorders.

In fact, your estrogen levels plummet 90-95% after your placenta is delivered, and your progesterone levels drop down to almost zero!

These low estrogen and progesterone levels may trigger mood instability for some women. Low progesterone levels also contribute to low allopregnanolone levels.

Studies suggest that postpartum women with lower levels of allopregnanolone (progesterone's metabolite) are associated with depressive symptoms in the early postpartum period.

This depressive state may negatively impact a mama's breastfeeding outcome, leading to early weaning.

Your corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which regulates your cortisol production, also drops in addition to your estrogen and progesterone levels. If you don't get the care you need during this postpartum period, those CRH can remain low, causing abnormally low cortisol levels to continue. This increases the potential to throw your thyroid levels into a downward spiral, and you will feel completely miserable, mama.

When you are constantly stressed out, your body produces more cortisol, which puts major stress on your adrenals (glands where cortisol is released). This can cause hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation if your adrenals can’t keep up with the load of stress.

With all this dysfunction and low hormone levels going on in your body, it can certainly influence your mood, causing anxiety, depression, overwhelming feelings, and irritability.

Low estrogen levels also contribute to mood instability and suppression of your hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Women who are experiencing mood disorders may have reduced HPA axis homeostasis. This may impact the stress-reducing effects that usually come with breastfeeding, and can also interfere with milk production.

This HPA axis disruption can also alter the levels of oxytocin and prolactin (more on the benefits of that below), interfering with mama-baby bonding and those feel-good emotions.

However, breastfeeding has been shown to counteract some of the negative impacts of hormone fluctuation.

Like I stated before, your progesterone levels drop after giving birth. When this occurs, your prolactin, cortisol, and insulin levels increase, which all help milk production for your little one. Prolactin, for example, helps mama and baby have a sense of relaxation and calmness.

Breastfeeding also promotes the release of other particular hormones, like oxytocin, and these hormones impact your brain (aka mood). Oxytocin is known as the love hormone that encourages connection and attachment to your baby.

*Please note, however, that stress can interfere with oxytocin production. This is just another reason why mamas need as much support as possible during postpartum!

Studies have shown that breastfeeding mamas tend to have reduced anxiety and report less negative moods and stress when compared to mothers who use formula feeding. It's also noted that breastfeeding mamas tend to have a calm, non-anxious physiological state. Mothers who breastfeed also have a reduced heart rate and blood pressure, as well as a stronger cardiac vagal tone modulation.

One study showed that breastfeeding mamas at 4 months were at a lesser risk of being diagnosed with postpartum depression.

You can see how it's not so cut and dry. Your mood can affect how well your breastfeeding journey goes, and your breastfeeding success can influence your mood.

If you want to increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy -physically and mentally, it's critical to take care of your health. Yes, this means eating a healthy diet, but it also means managing your stress levels and reaching out for help before you feel overwhelmed, overtired, and overneeded.

Please make an appointment with me if you want to have the best chances of having an enjoyable pregnancy journey through postpartum. I’m Dr. Corey Lapp and I’m a naturopathic doctor who specializes in helping confused mamas feel connected and healthy. I know our mamas lack the support they so dearly need. That's why I love what I do.

Please make an appointment with me to get started today.

If you are a struggling mama out there, please know that there are resources available and actionable steps you can take to feel like yourself again.