(Note: The following post is a private subject for women only. I'm sharing it publicly in hopes that if a woman is experiencing it, she will benefit from my experiences.)
I shared previously regarding my #B_12 deficiency that wreaked havoc on my life and it's lasting affects, in a post here.
A few of you contacted me to share your own experiences with health-related and mental health-related issues, the havoc they cause, and the rejection that some of you experienced because of these perceived #weaknesses.
It has prompted me to share another: I have #dysphoric_milk_ejection_reflex or D-MER.
It's a sudden rush of sadness or dysphoria that happens right before a nursing "letdown". I didn't have it with my first, Josiah, but I had other nursing issues (it took almost two months for my milk to come in, etc.). With Cassia, my second, I didn't have the same initial issues but within days of her birth, I realized that I was having a strange premonition-type feeling every time I nursed her. At times, it was quite severe - the kind of dread you might feel before speaking publicly or when hearing bad news.
I wasn't sure what was going on and I didn't have any of the #postpartum symptoms. So instead of getting anxious, I took it as a sign to pray. It helped a bit, but the feelings worsened over the weeks. So I Googled it. (Which I don't recommend, usually. ) When I found the information on some cobbled together websites, I took it to my doctor who had never heard of it. When I went back to her, she had done some research on this little-known issue and agreed with my self-diagnosis (which I also don't recommend, usually). She told me to track the times when it happened, just to be sure. Afterwards, a quick conversation confirmed I had it.
Five things to know:
1) #D_MER is not a psychological response to breastfeeding. It is a physiological response to milk release. Like hunger.
2) D-MER has been linked to an inappropriate drop in dopamine that occurs whenever milk is released. In a mother with D-MER at the time of letdown dopamine falls inappropriately, causing negative feelings.
3) Once I understood I wasn't crazy, the dysphoria lessened immensely. Once I understood I wasn't alone, the dysphoria lessened even more.
4) Once I understood a dopamine drop was involved, I had the idea to increase my dopamine levels right before I start nursing. I do this by really focusing on Cassia, squeezing her, and looking into her eyes. I think it may increase the dopamine levels so that the drop is less severe.
5) I made sure to #surrender it to God and left it there.
So, if you have these symptoms or something similar, please reach out to me. I'm happy to pray with you, pray for you, and listen.
#Grace comes when we need it.
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