Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex

[doulajamie]

I came across this site tonight while doing some research on oxytocin. I thought it was interesting and had not heard of D-MER. If this is a repeat, I apologize

www.d-mer.org

Does anyone have experience with helping a mom with this problem?


Jamie

[Stacie]

Yes, and boy it is a doozy. It is just not something a mother expects to happen -- certainly not something we generally talk about before a baby comes. That is a great site, too. She gave it a valiant effort, but stopped breastfeeding at 2 months.

[doulajamie]

It sounds like a very challenging problem. I can see how it could be mistaken for postpartum depression. In your experience, does it get any better with time?

Jamie

[DoulaYvonne]

Yes, this IS a very challenging condition. It is likely underreported or inappropriately reported. Many mothers have never heard of this. Even those that truly DO have D-MER can either not articulate their sensations or attribute them to something else entirely.

Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention.

[doulajamie]

Yvonne (and anyone else):

It states that D-MER is related to an abundance of oxytocin and a decrease in dopamine. Is there any relationship or increased incidence in mothers who have received Pitocin during delivery?

Jamie

[naturalbirther]

Wow. I cannot thank you enough. I really think that this must be what i experienced with ym first baby. I didn't know what it was. Every time I'd sit down to feed her, after she latched on and started relly sucking down milk (yes, with let-down), I'd get what felt like restless leg, my stomach felt like it might jump out of me and my skin would crawl....I wanted to pull my hair out! It was terrible. I wante dto love nursing, but it was hard. I don't remember it getting better. I just dealt with it best I could. I seemed to deal better when sleeping or even laying down. It happened with myfirst ds, too, but not nearly as bad. After starting my CBE training and hearing women w/PPD talk about panic attacks, i thought maybe breastfeeding was causing panic attacks. Now I wonder if this is what I was experiencing. I had very little, if any, with ds 2, thank God. I did not receive pitocin with any of my labors, but I *think* I had routine pit after birth with my first two. I refused it with ds2. I want to know more! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[AMotz]

wow, very interesting! good to know!

[doulajamie]

Natural Birther: It's kind of funny because I came across this site when I was looking for research on the connection betwen oxytocin and OCD. It was so-o interesting, I thought it was worth sharing!!!

Jamie

[DoulaYvonne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by doulajamie Yvonne (and anyone else): It states that D-MER is related to an abundance of oxytocin and a decrease in dopamine. Is there any relationship or increased incidence in mothers who have received Pitocin during delivery? Jamie

Jamie,

I'm just not sure. If I am able to find something that confirms or refutes this I will certainly pass it along though.

[earthgirl]

wow. this would explain a lot for me personally as well.

[bellabirthing]

did anyone ever find any research connections to pitocin and D-MER? this is really interesting to me. i read a lot about it on a D-MER web site the other night, but couldn't find anything about pit. it seems like there is definitely much research being done right now though, on all kinds of aspects of D-MER. what a terrible problem. i'm so glad i saw this thread so i will be aware of it now. are drs, nurses, lactation experts aware of it at this point?

[DoulaYvonne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bellabirthing i'm so glad i saw this thread so i will be aware of it now. are drs, nurses, lactation experts aware of it at this point?

Those in the lactation field are most certainly aware of it!

[naturalbirther]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaYvonne Those in the lactation field are most certainly aware of it!

I work with many LC's at the hospital where I teach and where most of my clients deliver. Actually, none of them, even the IBCLC's had heard of it! They requested this site for info, so again, THANK YOU for posting this link!

[bellymamadoula]

MY sisters and I had this I believe. I had never heard of it. BF is still a choice and we all still nursed our babies as long as we chose to.

[DoulaYvonne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturalbirther I work with many LC's at the hospital where I teach and where most of my clients deliver. Actually, none of them, even the IBCLC's had heard of it! They requested this site for info, so again, THANK YOU for posting this link!

Huh. I think that it goes to show that no matter what credential you have, if you are not engaged in continuing education in your field ( structured or unstructured), you are doing a disservice to those that are entrusted to your care. Now, I'm not saying that those LC's that are unaware of this phenomenon are not good in their jobs. But, we need to strive to not be "good enough", KWIM? I'm so glad that they are open to learning more.