136. Doc, You Can Stop Breastfeeding

Hey Doc, You can stop breastfeeding. You can stop pumping. You can know all of the benefits, have enough milk, have a baby who breastfeeds well, and still decide: I don’t want to do this anymore. I know that can be an especially complicated decision when you’re a physician. We know the evidence. We know the recommendations. We know exactly what we’re “supposed” to do. And when you’re already spending hours away from your baby because of work, breastfeeding can become the thing. At least I can do this for her. That was part of my experience with my daughter. I was making enough milk, but barely. If I didn’t drink enough water, missed a meal, or skipped a pumping session, my supply would drop and I’d spend the next few days trying to catch up. Everything revolved around producing enough milk. I made it eight months. I wanted to make it a year. And eventually I had to admit that breastfeeding was taking a significant toll on my mental health. So I stopped. And the relief was almost immediate. In this episode, I’m sharing part of an older conversation from the Mom & Mind podcast because I know there is a physician mom somewhere who needs permission to make the decision that is right for her, her baby, and her family. We talk about: How breastfeeding prolonged my postpartum anxiety Why pumping felt like its own special form of torture 😂 The additional pressure physician moms can put on themselves because we know the benefits of breastfeeding Why breastfeeding and mental health deserve a much more nuanced conversation The guilt that can come with stopping even when you know it’s the right decision Why unsolicited advice to “just keep going” can make a struggling mom feel even worse How to support another mom without immediately trying to fix her problem Because sometimes she doesn’t need another suggestion for increasing her supply. She doesn’t need another supplement, pumping schedule, lactation consultant, or “Have you tried…?” She might need you to listen. She might need you to tell her she’s not a bad mom. She might need someone to say, “It’s okay to stop.” And if you don’t know what she needs, there is a very simple way to find out: Ask her. “What do you need from me right now?” That question goes far beyond breastfeeding. I use it in my marriage. I use it with my clients. And it can completely change the way we support the people we love. So if breastfeeding is working beautifully for you, wonderful. If you love it, wonderful. And if breastfeeding is making you miserable and you desperately want someone to tell you that you’re allowed to stop: Doc, you can stop. You don’t have to suffer to prove that you’re a good mother. Listen to the episode, and please send this one to the physician mom who needs to hear it. What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know! Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field. If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want. Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya