Nausea and Physical Discomfort

There has been an increase in discussion about D-MER and physical experience and symptoms with D-MER. Though every situation is different and every mother can have a different experience, the way that D-MER is known to normally present does not include physical symptoms. A mother can have D-MER and other physical experiences with letdown, postpartum and breastfeeding, but D-MER itself is recognized as an emotional reaction. In order to clarify better, I was to write today about physical reactions in general, as well as the issue of nausea.

Physical Experience of D-MER

Many people ask if there are physical symptoms that are connected to D-MER. In short, no, not directly. D-MER has an emotional component, above all else. There are some breastfeeding women who experience physical anomalies when letting down their milk. Some complain of headaches, or break out in hives, experience nausea, or have an uncomfortable sensation in their breasts. There can be painful letdowns or pain in the breast when the breast is drained. These and other isolated physical symptoms are not associated with D-MER.

It is not uncommon, however, for mothers with D-MER to report some physical changes when they experience D-MER. This should come as no surprise, however, as D-MER is an intensely emotional and hormonal experience. Just as intense anxiety, anger or depression are emotional experiences that have bodily effects, so can D- MER. Some mothers may tear up, or feel a pit in their stomach (that can be interpreted as nausea), have an elevated heart rate, or feel generally physically unsettled. But it is important to note that these are most likely a result of her emotional response.

Physical reactions to letdown are not currently in the criteria for determining if a mother has D-MER. If a mother does not have the tell-tale sign of a negative emotional and dysphoric emotional response with letdown, it is most likely not D-MER.

Disgust Reaction and Nausea

Mothers with D-MER often resonate with the term nausea with D-MER, but I try to help mothers in expanding their vocabulary with this description since the descriptor of nausea is misleading to mothers who experience only nausea with letdown, without the emotional component of D-MER. This can cause mothers with only the physical symptom to misdiagnose their experience.

In more detail, mothers with D-MER often use the word disgust. This is how experiencing nausea with milk release can be misconstrued as D-MER, especially because some mothers do feel nausea with letdown. But for mothers who feel only nausea with letdown, it is an isolated physical reaction to milk release, with no emotional component.

Alternatively, mothers with D-MER experience a disgust reaction as part of their dysphoria, easily labeled as nausea. Dopamine suppression suppresses appetitive seeking, and sometimes food intake as well. This is why mothers can report feeling hungry before a D-MER episode, and can immediately push away a plate of food when the dysphoria hits, often regaining her appetite as soon as her letdowns are complete. As one mother related, “the worst is when D-MER comes right when your food is set down in front of you! I completely lose my appetite even if I was starving, to begin with. I regain my appetite soon after the D-MER ends”. It appears that often the disgust reaction with D-MER is both a physical and emotional sensation, the physical part being that of the stomach-turning in disgust while the mother, in turn, feels emotionally disgusted. A mother articulated, “I have been nursing my son for four months now and although I do not feel it every time, and sometimes it’s fleeting, I still get it. I feel this awful sad/disgusting/immoral feeling in the pit of my stomach, and it makes me feel like I’m terrible.” The feeling of disgust with D-MER seems to be multifaceted.

I hope this post can help clarify some of the confusion and discussion surrounding D-MER and other physical issues with letdown and breastfeeding.

xxoo,

Alia

The D-MER blog will regularly present in-depth personal stories concerning D-MER. Stories from mothers, health professionals, and support people are all welcome! Our hope is that reading these stories will serve as a source of support and encouragement. If you or someone you know has D-MER and would be willing to share your story on the blog (can be anonymous or not) please send an email to DMERblog@gmail.com. There is no deadline, it’s an ongoing project. We appreciate your support and participation!