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Baby latching during breastfeeding

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex

Breastfeeding? You need to know about this!

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER) is a condition affecting lactating women that is characterized by an abrupt dysphoria, or negative emotions, that occur just before milk release and continuing not more than a few minutes.

Dysphoria is defined as an unpleasant or uncomfortable mood, such as sadness, depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, or restlessness. Etymologically, it is the opposite of euphoria. D-MER is like a reflex. It is controlled by hormones and cannot be controlled by the mother. You can’t talk yourself out of the dysphoria.

If you get a momentary feeling of sadness when you breastfeed you are not alone. You are not crazy! It’s actually a thing!

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