How Breastfeeding Affects Your Hormones & Emotions

Let me just say this out loud for the mamas in the back: breastfeeding is not just about milk. It’s about hormones. It’s about connection. It’s about exhaustion and overwhelm. It’s about crying because your baby latched perfectly—and crying again ten minutes later because you’re touched out and just need a break.

If you’re here wondering, Why am I so emotional while breastfeeding? or Is this normal?, please know—you are not alone. The hormonal shifts that come with breastfeeding can catch you totally off guard, and understanding what's going on in your body can make the emotional ride feel a little less scary.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how breastfeeding affects your hormones and emotions, why some days feel like you’re floating and others feel like you’re falling, and how to care for your mental health while nursing your baby. So curl up in your nursing chair, tea in hand, and let’s talk about the hormonal side of breastfeeding that nobody warned us about.

The Hidden Hormones Behind Breastfeeding (And How They Affect Your Emotions)

When you’re breastfeeding, your body becomes a hormonal symphony—except some days it feels more like a punk rock concert inside your brain. Here's what’s happening behind the scenes:

💗 Oxytocin – The Bonding Hormone

Oxytocin is released every time you nurse your baby. It’s the reason you might feel a wave of warmth or even get teary-eyed while feeding. Oxytocin helps your milk let down, shrinks your uterus back to size, and makes you feel bonded and calm.

But for some moms (like me, hello sensitive soul 🙋), oxytocin can also amplify emotions—meaning the highs feel higher... and the lows? Well, they might sneak in, too.

🍼 Prolactin – The Milk-Making Chill Pill

Prolactin helps your body produce milk, but it also contributes to that sleepy, relaxed feeling during and after nursing. It’s nature’s way of saying: You’re doing a big job. Rest.

And yet, when you’re overtired, touched out, and overstimulated, that calming effect might not feel like enough. If you’re finding yourself weepy or moody, it’s not because you’re failing—it’s because your body is working overtime.

Estrogen and Progesterone – The Postpartum Plunge

After you give birth, your estrogen and progesterone levels drop dramatically. This hormonal crash can trigger intense mood swings, irritability, anxiety, or even postpartum depression. Breastfeeding extends the low-estrogen state for a while, which for some women means feeling extra sensitive emotionally.

This is especially true in the early weeks when sleep is non-existent and your entire identity has shifted overnight.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Breastfeeding (It’s Not Just You, Mama)

Breastfeeding can bring joy, frustration, love, guilt, pride, anxiety… all in the same 10-minute nursing session. Here’s what you might be feeling (and why):

😵 Mood Swings Are Normal (Even Hourly)

One moment you’re gazing into your baby’s eyes with hearts in your own, and the next you’re crying into your breast pad because the latch hurt or the laundry is piling up. Hormonal changes combined with sleep deprivation make you emotionally raw. And that’s okay.

😔 Postpartum Depression & Breastfeeding

Postpartum depression (PPD) can affect any new mom, whether she breastfeeds or not. But hormonal shifts, the physical demands of nursing, and the emotional pressure to “do it right” can deepen the struggle. If you're feeling hopeless, numb, or disconnected from your baby—it’s not just “baby blues.” Please reach out. PPD is real, and you deserve help.

🤱 Not Feeling a Bond? That’s Okay, Too

We’re told breastfeeding instantly creates this magical bond, but for many of us, that bond builds slowly. If you don’t feel an immediate rush of love every time you nurse, you are still a good mom. Your relationship with your baby is still unfolding—and it’s beautiful in its own time.

How to Cope with Breastfeeding Emotions (From a Mom Who’s Been There)

Here’s what helped me hold it together on the days I thought I was falling apart:

1. Name Your Feelings (Without Shame)

Say it out loud or journal it: “I feel resentful right now.” “I’m scared.” “I feel so in love it hurts.” Naming the feeling doesn’t make you weak—it makes you powerful. Emotions are signals, not character flaws.

2. Create Tiny Rituals of Self-Care

You don’t need a spa day. You need five minutes to breathe while someone else holds the baby. You need a warm shower, a snack you didn’t have to share, or a soft bra that doesn’t dig into your ribs. Small moments count.

3. Ask for Help Early and Often

Whether it’s your partner, your mom, a friend, or a lactation consultant—let them in. Let them see the messy moments. You do not have to carry all this alone. That’s not strength. That’s burnout.

4. Be Flexible with Breastfeeding Goals

Exclusive breastfeeding, combo feeding, pumping, supplementing with formula—it’s all feeding. What matters most is that you are supported and your baby is fed. Give yourself permission to change the plan if that’s what your mental health needs.

Mama, You Are Not Broken

The truth about breastfeeding and emotions is this: you are doing something incredibly complex and selfless and exhausting, and your body is trying to keep up with it all.

Feeling emotional doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re alive, loving, adjusting, and giving your all.

So take it one feed at a time. Let yourself cry when you need to. And remind yourself often: You’re not just feeding a baby—you’re becoming a mother.

FAQs

Q: Why do I cry while breastfeeding?
A: Crying during breastfeeding is often linked to hormonal shifts, especially oxytocin. This hormone is released during letdown and can cause emotional surges—including happy tears or sudden sadness. It’s normal and usually eases over time.

Q: Can breastfeeding make postpartum depression worse?
A: Breastfeeding doesn’t cause PPD, but the hormonal changes involved can intensify emotional symptoms. If you feel hopeless, anxious, or overwhelmed most days, talk to your provider. You can still breastfeed while treating PPD, and your mental health matters.

Q: Why do I feel anxious while breastfeeding?
A: Anxiety during nursing can be triggered by low estrogen, hormonal imbalance, or something called D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex). If you experience a wave of sadness or anxiety right before letdown, D-MER might be the cause. It’s real, and you’re not alone—talk to a lactation consultant or provider for support.

Q: Will these emotional ups and downs ever stop?
A: Yes. As your hormones level out and your breastfeeding routine becomes more predictable, your emotions will likely stabilize too. But if they don’t—or if they’re getting worse—please reach out. You don’t have to wait it out alone.

Q: Should I stop breastfeeding if it’s affecting my mental health?
A: Not necessarily. For some moms, continuing to breastfeed with support is helpful. For others, switching to pumping or combo feeding is a mental health game-changer. There is no shame in adjusting your plan. Your well-being is part of your baby’s well-being.