Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex, known as D-MER, causes intense negative emotions during breastfeeding. And it might be more common than doctors think.
Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex, or D-MER, is the name of the sudden wave of anxiety, depression, and/or other negative emotions that can occur just prior to and during breast milk letdown. The reaction typically lasts about 30-90 seconds, but it may last as long as five minutes in some cases.
An infant's intestinal tract responds to its mother's milk by sprouting receptors that detect the hormone, activating neurochemical signals that can travel all the way to the brain. These signals may influence a baby's stress response and the development of brain regions that regulate emotions such as fear and anxiety.
Myth: Babies who have been breastfed are clingy.
Breastfeeding provides not only the best nutrition for infants, but is also important for their developing brain. Breastfed babies are held a lot and because of this, breastfeeding has been shown to enhance bonding with their mother.
While a baby, toddler, or child is latched on, some mothers suffer from negative feelings or intrusive thoughts. This is a phenomenon called breastfeeding aversion and agitation. It is a rarely discussed topic as many women do not want to talk openly about it or are perhaps afraid to share these feelings.
Stress May Affect Cortisol Levels
Studies have shown that breast milk from distressed mothers may contain higher levels of cortisol. As your stress level rises, the level of cortisol in your breast milk also increases. When your baby nurses, they may consume some of this extra cortisol.
Be careful not to feed your baby every time she cries. Some babies cry because of a bloated stomach from overfeeding. Let your baby decide when she's had enough milk. (For example, she turns her head away.)
Some moms with sensitive reflexes can let down their milk either right before or right at the beginning of a breastfeeding session. Many women experience an uncontrolled let-down reflex when they hear a baby cry or think of their child—suddenly, milk will begin to flow even if their baby is not nursing.
Oxytocin and prolactin
While breastfeeding, these hormones promoted feelings of contentment, peace, and intimacy. As these hormone levels drop, some individuals experience complex physical and emotional symptoms including moodiness, sadness, or insomnia.
Many mothers find they experience nursing aversion due to hormonal changes. Some mothers find they struggle around ovulation or during their period. For other mothers, a nursing aversion may be the first sign of pregnancy. Many mothers find nursing through pregnancy tough, and even painful.
Exhaustion. Caring for a newborn can be tiring, and breastfeeding may feel harder when you are exhausted. Feeling like you can't leave your baby. Frequent feedings can leave you feeling like you don't have any time for yourself.
Physical pain with breastfeeding can be especially triggering for a mother with risk factors for mental illness. Research has found that pain is associated generally with increased risk of depression, and breastfeeding pain has been associated with increased risk of postnatal depression.
Breastfeeding also provides a psychoneuroimmunological benefit to mothers that reduces anxiety, which is likely associated with the hormone prolactin [2]. Other studies have discovered that breastfeeding directly decreases the symptoms of depression and that early cessation of breastfeeding eliminates this benefit [3].
Babies not only pick up on their mother's stress, but they also show corresponding physiological changes, according to a UC San Francisco-led study.
Newborns have a strong sense of smell and know the unique scent of your breastmilk.
Second Night Syndrome
Generally occurs about 24 hours after birth for almost every baby. Your baby will want to be on the breast constantly but quickly fall asleep. If you put him down, he will probably wake up. If you put him back to breast, he will feed for a short time and fall asleep.
According to studies, breastfeeding is the most powerful form of interaction between the mother and the infant. Due to the physical closeness, the baby is more close to the mother than to anyone else in the family. As per a few studies, breastfed mothers are closer to their babies as compared to bottle-fed mothers.
As a nursing mom, it's important to stay well-hydrated. While being slightly dehydrated may not affect breast milk production, it can influence your mood, amount of energy, and skin health. Here is a guide to help you choose what to drink while breastfeeding, and what to avoid or limit.
Your body is always making milk. That means there's no need to wait for the supply to “replenish” between feedings. In fact, waiting a long time between feeding your baby can actually reduce your milk supply. That's because your body does an amazing job of producing the right amount of milk to keep your baby happy.
Breast milk IgA levels were negatively correlated with negative psychological states. The women who reported higher levels of negative affect and/or anxiety (as measured with the POMS scales of tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, fatigue, and confusion) had lower levels of breast milk IgA.
Eye contact is an early predictor of language skills.
Whether breast- or bottle-fed, babies develop foundational social communication skills by looking at a caregiver's face during feedings.