Is it normal to feel sad while breastfeeding?

Understanding Sadness While Breastfeeding
For many mothers, the experience of breastfeeding is often romanticized, depicted as a serene bonding moment filled with joy and love. However, the reality can be quite different. It is not uncommon for mothers to feel sadness or negative emotions during breastfeeding, a phenomenon that can be both surprising and distressing.
The Role of Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER)
One of the primary explanations for these feelings is a condition known as Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER). This condition is characterized by an abrupt onset of negative emotions, such as sadness or anxiety, that coincides with the milk letdown reflex during breastfeeding. Essentially, as the milk begins to flow, some mothers may experience a wave of dysphoria that can be quite intense.
Research suggests that D-MER is a physiological response rather than a psychological one. It is believed to be linked to hormonal changes that occur during breastfeeding, which can affect mood and emotional state. This means that the feelings of sadness are not necessarily indicative of a mother’s overall mental health or her feelings towards her baby.
Emotional Complexity of Breastfeeding
In addition to D-MER, breastfeeding can trigger a range of negative emotions and intrusive thoughts. Some mothers report feelings of agitation or aversion while nursing, particularly if they are tandem feeding or breastfeeding during pregnancy. This emotional complexity can stem from various factors, including physical discomfort, fatigue, and the overwhelming demands of motherhood.
Moreover, many mothers face the challenge of postpartum depression, which can exacerbate feelings of sadness during breastfeeding. The emotional toll of adjusting to motherhood, coupled with the physical demands of breastfeeding, can create a perfect storm for negative feelings.
Seeking Support and Understanding
It is crucial for mothers experiencing these feelings to know that they are not alone and that these emotions are valid. Understanding the physiological basis of D-MER and the emotional complexities of breastfeeding can help mothers navigate their experiences more effectively.
Support from healthcare providers, lactation consultants, and mental health professionals can be invaluable. They can offer strategies to cope with these feelings, whether through emotional support, practical breastfeeding tips, or addressing any underlying mental health concerns.
In conclusion, while it may be surprising to feel sadness during breastfeeding, it is a normal experience for many mothers. Recognizing the factors at play, such as D-MER and postpartum emotional challenges, can help mothers find comfort and support in their breastfeeding journey.

Can babies feel mothers sadness?

If you’re very sad, or suffering from depression, your baby experiences those feelings as well. Your emotional state affects your baby’s development for a significant portion of their life.

What day of breastfeeding hurts the most?

Your breasts will feel swollen and painful 2 to 3 days after you give birth. You will need to nurse your baby often to relieve the pain. Pump your breasts if you miss a feeding, or if a feeding does not relieve the pain. Talk to your health care provider if your breasts do not feel better after 1 day.

What is the hardest week of breastfeeding?

moms and babies have to learn together.” The first week is always the hardest, but by the second week, most moms have rebounded from their engorgement phase and things fall into place, she says. Engorgement typically happens when milk production ramps up within the first few days of giving birth.

Does breastfeeding mess with your emotions?

Breastfeeding has been reported to impact mood and stress reactivity in mothers [55]. Specifically, breastfeeding mothers report reductions in anxiety, negative mood, and stress when compared to formula-feeding mothers [56].

Are breastfed babies more attached to mom?

According to studies, breastfeeding is the most powerful form of interaction between the mother and the infant. Due to the physical closeness, the baby is more close to the mother than to anyone else in the family. As per a few studies, breastfed mothers are closer to their babies as compared to bottle-fed mothers.

What are the four stages of breastfeeding?

The Basics of Breastfeeding
Breast milk has three different and distinct stages: colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk. Colostrum is the first stage of breast milk. It occurs during pregnancy and lasts for several days after the birth of the baby. It is either yellowish or creamy in color.

Is it normal to hate the feeling of breastfeeding?

Maybe you’ve discovered these negative feelings arise only at certain times: when you’re tired, around the time of your period, during pregnancy, etc. However you experience it, Breastfeeding Aversion and Agitation (BAA) is a very real phenomenon and one that often leaves those who experience it feeling guilty.

How long does it take for hormones to balance after breastfeeding?

The return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels can vary greatly, but generally hormones will normalize within three to six months. If you are breastfeeding, as you wean from it, your prolactin and oxytocin levels will drop—potentially leaving you feeling sad, anxious or irritable.

Does breastfeeding while sad affect the baby?

Stress May Affect Cortisol Levels
Studies have shown that breast milk from distressed mothers may contain higher levels of cortisol. As your stress level rises, the level of cortisol in your breast milk also increases. When your baby nurses, they may consume some of this extra cortisol.

Are breastfed babies more clingy to mom?

Myth: Babies who have been breastfed are clingy.
All babies are different. Some are clingy and some are not, no matter how they are fed. Breastfeeding provides not only the best nutrition for infants, but is also important for their developing brain.