Why do I feel nauseated when I breastfeed?

Understanding Nausea During Breastfeeding
For many new mothers, breastfeeding is a profound experience filled with both joy and challenges. However, some women report feeling nauseated during nursing sessions, a discomfort that can overshadow the bonding experience. Understanding the reasons behind this nausea can help mothers navigate their breastfeeding journey more comfortably.
Common Causes of Nausea
1. Hormonal Changes: One of the primary culprits behind nausea during breastfeeding is the release of hormones, particularly oxytocin. This hormone, which is responsible for milk let-down, can also trigger feelings of nausea in some women. As the body responds to the physical act of breastfeeding, the sudden surge of oxytocin can lead to brief waves of nausea, especially during the initial let-down reflex.
2. Dietary Factors: A mother’s nutritional intake plays a crucial role in her overall well-being while breastfeeding. Insufficient calorie consumption can lead to low blood sugar levels, which may manifest as nausea. Breastfeeding mothers typically require an additional 400 to 500 calories per day to meet their energy needs. If a mother is not eating enough or has an empty stomach, she may experience nausea during nursing sessions.
3. Dehydration: Staying hydrated is essential for breastfeeding mothers. Dehydration can exacerbate feelings of nausea, making it vital for mothers to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. If a mother is not adequately hydrated, she may feel lightheaded or nauseous while breastfeeding.
4. Physical Discomfort: The physical demands of breastfeeding can also contribute to nausea. If a mother is in an uncomfortable position or experiences pain while nursing, this discomfort can lead to feelings of sickness. Ensuring a comfortable and supportive breastfeeding position can help alleviate some of this discomfort.
5. Anxiety and Stress: The emotional aspects of motherhood can also play a significant role in physical symptoms. Anxiety about breastfeeding, concerns about milk supply, or general postpartum stress can manifest as nausea. It’s important for mothers to address these feelings, whether through support groups, counseling, or simply talking to friends and family.
Remedies and Tips
To combat nausea during breastfeeding, mothers can consider several strategies:
– Eat Regularly: Ensuring a balanced diet with sufficient calories can help maintain stable blood sugar levels. Snacking before breastfeeding sessions can also prevent nausea.

– Stay Hydrated: Drinking water before and during breastfeeding can help mitigate feelings of nausea.
– Relaxation Techniques: Practicing deep breathing or mindfulness can help reduce anxiety and stress, potentially alleviating nausea.
– Comfortable Positioning: Finding a comfortable nursing position can reduce physical discomfort and help mothers feel more at ease during breastfeeding.
Conclusion
Feeling nauseated while breastfeeding is a common issue that many mothers face. By understanding the potential causes—ranging from hormonal changes to dietary factors—mothers can take proactive steps to alleviate this discomfort. With the right strategies in place, breastfeeding can become a more enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

Can breastfeeding hormones make you feel sick?

Milk ejection can be associated with different sensations that vary dramatically between women. These may be localised to the breast such as a ‘drawing’ pain or tingling, to more systemic sensations such as nausea, thirst, fainting or even mental anxiety and depression8.

Why does my baby feel like throwing up while breastfeeding?

What causes babies to vomit? Generally, mild vomiting occurs because a young baby is still getting used to feeding on, digesting and eliminating milk. On average, a newborn baby’s stomach can hold around 20 millilitres, so it doesn’t take much milk for them to fill up and vomit the excess.

Why does breastfeeding make me feel nauseous?

Nausea that occurs with the milk let-down may be related to the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin is the hormone that causes the milk ejection reflex (MER or let-down), and it also helps make digestion more efficient and is associated with other gut hormones that can cause nausea.

Why does breastfeeding make my stomach upset?

For a few days after delivery, many women have cramping pain in the abdomen at the start of each feeding. This is because breastfeeding stimulates the release of hormones that help shrink the uterus back to its normal size.

What to take for nausea when breastfeeding?

Treating nausea during breastfeeding

• Cyclizine.
• Hyoscine hydrobromide.
• Metoclopramide.
• Ondansetron.
• Prochlorperazine.
• Promethazine.

Why do I feel weird when I breastfeed?

Not everyone has a positive experience with breastfeeding. If you feel negative emotions like anger or sadness when your milk lets down, you may have D-MER, or dysphoric milk ejection reflex. You’re not alone, you did nothing to cause it and there’s nothing “wrong” with you.

Can breastfeeding make you feel unwell?

Mastitis (inflammation of the breast) happens when a blocked milk duct is not relieved. It makes the breast feel hot and painful, and can make you feel very unwell with flu-like symptoms.

Is nausea common postpartum?

Painful poops or swollen perineum? It’s all normal stuff after giving birth. Other symptoms, however, like nausea, fever or chills, can be warning signs of something more serious.

Why do I feel nauseous after feeding?

Nausea after eating and other gastrointestinal problems may occur when an organ within the digestive system stops functioning properly. For example, gastroesophageal disease (GERD) occurs when the ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach malfunctions, causing stomach acid to enter the esophagus.

Why does breastfeeding make me feel weird?

Breastfeeding can also trigger a condition known as dysphoric milk ejection reflex or DMER. DMER is like aversion, triggering a range of negative feelings: Despair, despondency, and hopelessness are commonly reported. As a condition, though, DMER is prompted by your milk ejection reflex — hence the name.