08/31/2025
As Black Breastfeeding Week comes to a close, so does a very tender chapter in my own journey.
Something that I don’t think is talked about enough is post-weaning depression.
Post-weaning depression was something I had learned about, but did not experience with my first. With Amora, things were different. When she turned 14 months old, I made the hard decision to wean. My original goal was to breastfeed her for at least two years. While I knew it was best for my mental health, letting go was still incredibly difficult. For weeks, I felt extreme periods of sadness as my milk dried up, and even thought about starting again, hoping it might make the sadness and guilt go away. Even now, four months later, I still carry pieces of that sadness.
To honor this journey, I had breastmilk jewelry made, just as I did with my first. When I received this necklace, I didn’t think I would feel so happy and so complete. It is a way to remember the joy of nourishing life with my body, the deep bond we share, and the challenges that came with it all. What made it even more special was that it was made by a dear friend who is moving 🥹
Thank you, Edna, for creating this piece with such love and for making the additional heart and necklace for Nina. Having pieces for both of my girls feels like such a full-circle moment, a beautiful representation of the unique yet connected journeys I’ve shared with each of them. Forever grateful. 💜
