There's been a lot of conversation lately on Lactnet (a discussion list for lactation professionals) about depression specifically tied to the milk ejection reflex (MER). This phenomenon has been named dyphoric MER, or D-MER.
I have been following these exchanges with great interest. I experienced what I now realize was D-MER, and these discussions have provided many "a-ha!" moments.
Here's a great personal description of the phenomenon at Law & Motherhood.
And there's a fantastic D-MER website - www.d-mer.org - "Because breastfeeding shouldn't make you feel this way." I strongly urge you to check this site out, and if you have experienced D-MER please fill out their survey!!
Personally, I suspect that prolactin plays a large role in D-MER. Looking at the survey responses thus far, a lot of women have reported having overactive let down and oversupply issues. Both are associated with high levels of prolactin.
And interestingly enough - endometriosis (which I have) is also associated with high levels of prolactin. And every endo patient I know who's breastfed has experienced OALD/OAS.
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2 comments:
I love your input Ali, thank you. Actually dopamine's close connections with prolactin have led us to look even more closely at it recently, so I bet you aren't all that far off! thanks for spread the word about D-MER and d-mer.org!
Ali,
I completely understand your Aha! moments! I am interested to read that it may have something to do with an over abundance of milk supply. I have always felt that I could have been a wet nurse, because I have way too much milk for my baby to consume.
Thank you for visiting and linking back to me!
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