Doctors believe that increasing skin-to-skin contact between the child and parent can reduce the negative reaction a parent with D-MER experiences.  Massages are also suggested to be beneficial.

Skin contact to reduce D-MER

Mothers are able to focus on their breather, the present moment, and treating themselves with compassion. Reminding yourself that negative thoughts are not facts can allow the parent to disperse their symptoms.  One mother discribed engaging in mindfullness while breastfeeding as a way to distract herself and reassure herself that the emotions she was feeling weren't really hers. It acts as a powerful mechanism of downregulation.

Mindfullness to reduce D-MER

Stable and safe environments can redice the effects by decreasing the environmental factors that might cause deffensive responces or stress. Other environmental factors, such as music, comfortable seeting, and warmth can help to decrease the liklihood of D-MER  symptoms. 


Warmth triggers the oxytocin responce which can help regulate the parent's symptoms.

Environmental changes to reduce the effects of D-MER

Some women have benefited by increasing their levels of protein consumption to reduce symptoms. Modulations in diet can also lower insulin levels, for example reducing the amount of carbohydrates consumed.

Nutrition in reducing the symptoms of D-MER

The breastfeeding parent can reduce the number of times they do milk-ejection. For example, fewer instances of breastfeeding or pumping can ease symptoms. They can also stop breastfeeding all-together and use formula for the child instead.

Self-care to reduce the symptoms of D-MER

- Skin to Skin contact
- Mindfulness
- Stable environment
- self-care
- nutrition

Grinnell College

With D-MER, the mother experiences dysphoria during milk ejection or breast feeding.  It is reported as a sudden change in emotions when feeding occures. It typically disappears within 10 minutes after the beginning of feeding. This is different from postpartum depression because it lasts for a short time directly after the beginning of feeding. 

Dysphoric Milk-Ejection Reflex (D-MER)

Unvas-Moberg, K & Kendall-Tackett, K. (2018). The mystery of D-MER; What can hormonal research tell us about dysphoric milk-ejection reflex? Clinical Lactation, 9(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/2158-0782.9.1.23

The Mystery of D-MER; What can hormonal research tell us about dysphoric milk-ejection reflex?

- Stress 
- Trauma (discredited)
- Dopamine
- Oxytocin

Possible causes of Dysphoric Milk-Ejection Reflex

Symptoms range from dizziness, overwhelming sadness, irritation, restlessness, anger, panic, severe depression and anxiety. It typically disappears within 10 minutes after the beginning of feeding. For some women, the symptoms are severe enough that they have to wean their child. Some mothers only experience the symptoms for a few days while some experience the instances for the entire length of their breastfeeding.

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