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adventures in breastfeeding: D-MER
Jul. 13th, 2011 12:30 amThree weeks into breastfeeding, and I was wondering what I was still doing wrong. So many mothers are crazy about it. They truly enjoy the act of breastfeeding, say it is a rapturous experience, the epitome of bonding. I'm envious of those mothers. I do love the fact that I am providing my son with the best nutrition possible, and that it's helping me bounce back really quickly, along with all of the other protective benefits for the both of us. But I don't love doing it. I have to admit, the process leaves me feeling a little... gross. I have no weird body issues -- at least as far as my boobs are concerned. It's more a vague feeling of wanting to crawl out of my skin. Queasy, irritated, tense. Gross. I actually googled "breastfeeding makes me feel gross" just to see what would turn up.
Surprisingly, it's a thing! I had to weed through a few stupid Yahoo! Answers before stumbling across it, but once I did, it made sense. It's called D-MER, or Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. Letdown occurs when oxytocin increases and dopamine decreases to facilitate prolactin production. With D-MER, there's a faulty dopamine response and it dips too low, causing a range of negative emotions.
Stats I've read say a newborn will nurse about 10-12 times per day. Mine, however, wants to nurse on a near constant basis. I lose track of start and stop times because they all just sort of blend together. Blame an alleged growth spurt, an upset tummy, or craving for closeness? I can't say which, but it's that much more often I sit through the creepy dysphoric feeling. From what I've read, the less severe cases resolve on their own within a few months. Here's hoping that happens sooner rather than later, because it's doing a number on my state of mind.
Surprisingly, it's a thing! I had to weed through a few stupid Yahoo! Answers before stumbling across it, but once I did, it made sense. It's called D-MER, or Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. Letdown occurs when oxytocin increases and dopamine decreases to facilitate prolactin production. With D-MER, there's a faulty dopamine response and it dips too low, causing a range of negative emotions.
Stats I've read say a newborn will nurse about 10-12 times per day. Mine, however, wants to nurse on a near constant basis. I lose track of start and stop times because they all just sort of blend together. Blame an alleged growth spurt, an upset tummy, or craving for closeness? I can't say which, but it's that much more often I sit through the creepy dysphoric feeling. From what I've read, the less severe cases resolve on their own within a few months. Here's hoping that happens sooner rather than later, because it's doing a number on my state of mind.
