Milk Ejection Reflex and Negative Emotions. What is going on?

You sit down to nurse. You're tired and looking forward to relaxing with your squishy new baby snuggled comfortably against your chest. You can't wait to hear those reassuring sounds as he sucks, swallows, and breathes.

You're ready.

Ready to soak up the warm touch of your baby's smooth skin, to stroke his back gently with one hand while supporting him with the other. You're ready to feel his tummy move in and out against yours as you enjoy the surge of oxytcin that will pulse through your veins telling your breasts it's time to nurture your baby.

You have your water, your snack, and a good book. Baby latches on, you lean back, you relax, and take a deep breath as you comfortably melt into your couch, but as you exhale you feel like something is not right; maybe you feel homesick, or even helpless. You don't know why or where this is coming from. These negative feelings, that can range from severe to mild, envelope you tightly as you struggle to understand how they could take up residence deep in the pit of your stomach while doing something you enjoy so much.

Breastfeeding.

Baby begins gulping and you know your milk has let-down. A minute passes and everything feels right again. In fact you may even forget about these feelings but next time you sit down to nurse or even if your milk let-down occurs without a nursling at the breast you are reminded, yet again, of these passing emotions that you struggle to understand.

If this sounds familiar to you than you might have Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex or D-MER.

*****

As a new mother with my first baby, a boy, the description above is my experience. After several months the symptoms improved greatly and pretty much disappeared as we nursed into toddler-hood. By the time I was pregnant with my second baby I had forgotten completely about these poorly understood emotions. Then she was born and the uncomfortable feelings were knocking at my breastfeeding door again.

Despite laying in my own bed or sitting on my own couch, every time I placed my brand new baby girl to the breast I felt homesick. It would fill me up with a mild sense of doom I just couldn't shake. The feelings were brief so I accepted them and moved on. I began to expect these feelings just as much as I expected to see my baby start gulping. I knew they would visit just before I felt the familiar sensation of a milk release (note: not all women feel a milk ejection reflex) and expected them to leave within a minute or less. These unexplained, poorly understood feelings were consistent and predictable. In fact, they were so predictable, even when baby wasn't at the breast, I could tell if I was going to have a let-down because I would suddenly feel that all too frequent "ickiness" that started in the pit of my stomach and consumed my body like a virus.

Just as they slowly left me with my first baby they faded with my second. It wasn't until one of the breastfeeding facebook pages I "like" posted an article about D-MER did I know that what I was experiencing had a name, or even that it existed beyond my own experience. It was my "aha moment!" A physiological reaction to a drop in dopamine!

*****

So what is Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex?

According to Kellymom.com "'Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex is a condition affecting lactating women that is characterized by an abrupt dysphoria, or negative emotions, that occur just before milk release and continuing not more than a few minutes.' This is a physiological response (not a psychological response) that appears to be tied to a sudden decrease in the brain chemical dopamine immediately before milk let-down."

For more information read this article by Alia Macrina Heise, from Breastfeeding Today, Issue 4 (November 2010), pp. 18-20.
D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex): What is it?

~ Meghan  

Saying Goodbye

Le Leche League of Sandy is sad to announce that Renee and Rocio are officially retired as La Leche League Leaders. Everything they have done for La Leche League is and will always be appreciated. I am sad to see them go, a bit nervous to carry on, but excited for the future of La Leche League of Sandy. Change, although scary, is necessary. I know our community of breastfeeding moms will continue to support me, and I will continue to support you as we experience this change together!!

In light of LLL of Sandy losing two wonderful Leaders to retirement, enrichment meetings are not currently being held as I find my footing during this change. 

Enrichment Meeting

Today at 10am join us to talk about nursing beyond the first year!

Milk Donation

Curious about milk donation?  Check out the Salt Lake Mothers' Milk Donation Center.  Like them on Facebook. There is currently a breast milk shortage which you can read about in this article.  If you have any further questions contact the donation center at milkdonation@utha.edu.

Foods I Should Avoid?

One of the LLLI philosophy concepts states, "Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible." Thus, in general, no food is excluded from the list of foods a breastfeeding mother should eat. Obviously, it is best to make sure the foods you eat are fresh and healthy. The concept of variety is important, because by eating a number of foods, you can be sure to obtain different nutrients and do not eat too much of any one food.

Every culture has lists of foods that are "good" and "bad" for breastfeeding mothers. It happens very often that foods believed to be good in one culture are considered bad in others! In Italy, mothers are often told not to eat garlic, cauliflower, lentils and red peppers. In India most mothers eat all these things and breastfeed very happily. Actually, in parts of India they believe that garlic helps a mother to breastfeed successfully!

Generally, anything you are happy eating is okay for you to eat while you are breastfeeding. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. If you have a family medical history of allergy, it is worth being careful about your diet and avoiding known allergens during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you notice that your baby reacts badly after you have eaten something, it may be best to leave that food out of your diet for a while. There is an excellent article on our Web site called " Allergies and the Breastfeeding Family,"   which may help you if you are worried about allergies.

See also myths 12 and 21 in the article "Common Breastfeeding Myths"  for more information about what a breastfeeding mother needs to eat, and our resource page on Breastfeeding and Allergies.

To read this article and many more frequently asked questions breastfeeding visit http://www.llli.org/faq/.

Mini Café Fun

Thanks to all who came and enjoyed our Mini Café and participated in the Big Latch On!  We had a lovely group of ladies, three supportive Dads and many children all enjoying a beautiful day at the park!

Thank you all and we hope to see you at a meeting soon!

Mini Café & The Big Latch On

Mark your calendars!  

In conjunction with the 7th annual Breastfeeding Café, La Leche League of Sandy is putting on our own Mini Café and will be hosting The Big Latch On.  

LLL of Sandy Mini Café 

Saturday, August 4, 2012

9am to 1pm

Lone Peak Park 

10140 South 700 East in Sandy

We will have a silent auction for a SleepyWrap, Portrait Session from Landslide Photography & more.  

Giveaways will include a copy of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and more!

The Big Latch On

Let's break the record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously!

Registration for The Big Latch On is at 10am

The Official ONE minute event will be from 10:30-10:31am

Please arrive at 10am in order to register and settle before the event begins.


If you have any questions please contact 
Renee at reneeyeoman@gmail.com or by text at 801-201-2165.

Breastfeeding Café Events

Don't miss this years café blog.  Today's post, wordless Wednesday, features beautiful breastfeeding photos from mothers like you.  http://breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com/today/

Also, the café kickoff will be held next week.

And, of course, don't miss LLL of Sandy's own Mini Café coming up on August 4th!

If you haven't volunteered for the Breastfeeding Café yet, email Renee at reneeyeoman@gmail.com to get involved!  Keep an eye on the café website for more information http://breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com/.

The Big Latch On

Are you familiar with the Big Latch On? It is groups of breastfeeding woman coming together at registered locations all around the world to latch their child at a set time.  All the breastfeeding women and children are latched on for one minute at the set time and are counted by witnesses.  The numbers are added up and we see if we beat previous Big Latch On records or maybe even the world record!  Join LLL of Sandy for this event at our Mini Café on Saturday, August 4, 2012 at 10:30am.  Please arrive at 10:00am to get registered and settled for the one minute event from 10:30am-10:31am.

Would you like to help with this event?  Email Renee at reneeyeoman@gmail.com.

Join us for a Mini Café

Join us in celebrating a World Breastfeeding Week celebration in conjunction with The Breastfeeding Café.  La Leche League of Sandy will be holding a Mini Café on Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 9am-1pm.  Join us for The Big Latch On, fun give-aways including a Moby Wrap, and more!

Hope to see you all there!

2012 Breastfeeding Café

Have you heard about the Breastfeeding Café?  Wondering what it's all about?  Read this excerpt from the Breastfeeding Café website.  For more information visit http://breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com/.  To volunteer to help at the café email Renee at reneeyeoman@gmail.com.

The Breastfeeding Cafe is an outreach project of the Utah Breastfeeding Coalition.  Our goals are to…

1. Show that breastfeeding is normal

2. Inspire thought and conversation about breastfeeding

3. Encourage relationships among breastfeeding advocates

The Breastfeeding Cafe grew from the needs of nursing mothers, including local mom Susan Johnson who wished for a welcoming spirit and place while nursing her own daughter in the 90s.  A Utah Breastfeeding Coalition member, La Leche League Leader and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Susan envisioned a gathering place in which nursing mothers and their children would be welcomed in the community.

An annual Coalition event, The Breastfeeding Cafe is possible thanks to the generosity and nurturing spirit of volunteers from all over the valley.   Together with our sponsors and visitors we look forward to a time when every day is one of acceptance for nursing families.

Thank you for celebrating the everyday importance of breastfeeding!

July Newsletter

La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.

Memberships: 

Support your local group and help us keep supporting you! When you purchase your membership to La Leche League of Sandy you'll receive access to our lending library and discounts on other items (see announcements below). You also help make sure that LLL of Sandy can stay operating. We are a non-profit organization and money goes to group expenses so that we may continue to help moms with breastfeeding. 

Support our Group by becoming a member of LLLUSA and LLL of Sandy! Membership is $40 per year and supports continuing education for Leaders and ensures that LLL of Sandy continues to exist to support mothers and babies. Please give back to our group. You can purchase a membership on-line via pay pal at http://dev.lllusa.org/UT/Utah.html. Make sure to put our group name (Sandy) in the box.  You can also pay by check/cash to any Leader.

Announcements:

**Enrichment Meetings are now open to everyone** We are excited to open our Enrichment Meetings up to all women who are interested! So come and enjoy more La Leche League of Sandy! Enrichment Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the first month of each series (see meeting schedule below) at 10:00am at Community of Grace Presbyterian Church, 2015 E. Newcastle Drive (8890 S). 

Need a baby carrier? Know someone else who needs a baby carrier? Become a member for one year (or renew your membership) for $40 and get our last Maya Tai baby carrier for only $40. That's $40 for a membership and only $40 for a new baby carrier! You will not find a brand new Maya Tai baby carrier for less! (http://www.mayawrap.com/shop/maya-tie.html)Memberships are tax deductible. 

La leche League of Sandy is having a used book sale! Come to our meeting this Tuesday and browse our selection of books, all things mothering. Each book is just $4 and with our large selection available you are bound to find a book just right for you and your family. 

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, purchase this National Best-seller for yourself, purchase it for a gift, purchase it for a discount if you are a member of LLL of Sandy! $10 for members or with a new membership or $20 without membership. 

Follow us on Facebook. You can post questions directly to our Facebook page, keep up to date on our meeting schedules and topics, and read comments/questions posted from mothers just like you! 

What goes on at a meeting? 

Have you seen our blog? LLL of Sandy has a blog You can visit to find Leader phone numbers, membership information, and all about the different meetings LLL of Sandy has to offer.

Meeting Schedule:

All interested women, mothers, mothers-to-be, babies, and children are welcome at our meetings! Series Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 10:00 AM. Enrichment Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the first month of each series at 10:00 AM.

*

Series Meeting 3: The Art of Breastfeeding and Avoiding Difficulties

Tuesday July 10 at 10:00 AM

Community of Grace Presbyterian Church 

2015 E. Newcastle Drive (8890 S.) 

Sandy, Utah 

(NE corner of Highland Drive and Newcastle Drive)

*

Series Meeting 4: Nutrition and Weaning

Tuesday August 14 at 10:00 AM

Community of Grace Presbyterian Church 

2015 E. Newcastle Drive (8890 S.) 

Sandy, Utah 

(NE corner of Highland Drive and Newcastle Drive)

*

Series Meeting 1: The Importance of Breastfeeding

Tuesday September 11 at 10:00 AM

Community of Grace Presbyterian Church 

2015 E. Newcastle Drive (8890 S.) 

Sandy, Utah 

(NE corner of Highland Drive and Newcastle Drive)

*

Thank you for supporting our community of nursing mothers! See you Soon!

Newsletter

Memberships: 

Support your local group and help us keep supporting you! When you purchase your membership to La Leche League of Sandy you'll receive access to our lending library and discounts on other items (see announcements below). You also help make sure that LLL of Sandy can stay operating. We are a non-profit organization and money goes to group expenses so that we may continue to help moms with breastfeeding. 

Support our Group by becoming a member of LLLUSA and LLL of Sandy! Membership is $40 per year and supports continuing education for Leaders and ensures that LLL of Sandy continues to exist to support mothers and babies. Please give back to our group. You can purchase a membership on-line via pay pal at http://dev.lllusa.org/UT/Utah.html. Make sure to put our group name (Sandy) in the box.  You can also pay by check/cash to any Leader.

Announcements:

*****Location Changed for June's Meeting.***** Come enjoy the warm weather with us at Willowcreek Park (8400 S 2000 E) on June 12th. There is a lot of shade for sitting and a lot of room for running around! This change is only for the meeting scheduled on June 12th. 

**Enrichment Meetings are now open to everyone** We are excited to open our Enrichment Meetings up to all women who are interested! So come and enjoy more La Leche League of Sandy! Enrichment Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the first month of each series (see meeting schedule below) at 10:00am at Community of Grace Presbyterian Church, 2015 E. Newcastle Drive (8890 S). 

Need a baby carrier? Know someone else who needs a baby carrier? Become a member for one year (or renew your membership) for $40 and get our last Maya Tai baby carrier for only $40. That's $40 for a membership and only $40 for a new baby carrier! You will not find a brand new Maya Tai baby carrier for less! (http://www.mayawrap.com/shop/maya-tie.html)Memberships are tax deductible. 

La leche League of Sandy is having a used book sale! Come to our meeting this Tuesday and browse our selection of books, all things mothering. Each book is just $4 and with our large selection available you are bound to find a book just right for you and your family. 

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, purchase this National Best-seller for yourself, purchase it for a gift, purchase it for a discount if you are a member of LLL of Sandy! $10 for members or with a new membership or $20 without membership. 

Follow us on Facebook. You can post questions directly to our Facebook page, keep up to date on our meeting schedules and topics, and read comments/questions posted from mothers just like you! 

What goes on at a meeting? 

Have you seen our blog? LLL of Sandy has a blog You can visit to find Leader phone numbers, membership information, and all about the different meetings LLL of Sandy has to offer.

Meeting Schedule:

 

All interested women, mothers, mothers-to-be, babies, and children are welcome at our meetings! Series Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 10:00 AM. Enrichment Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the first month of each series at 10:00 AM.

*

Series Meeting 2: Baby Arrives: The Family and the Breastfed Baby

Tuesday June 12 at 10:00 AM

Willowcreek Park 

8400 S 2000 E 

Sandy, Utah

*

Series Meeting 3: The Art of Breastfeeding and Avoiding Difficulties

Tuesday July 10 at 10:00 AM

Community of Grace Presbyterian Church 

2015 E. Newcastle Drive (8890 S.) 

Sandy, Utah 

(NE corner of Highland Drive and Newcastle Drive)

*

Series Meeting 4:  Nutrition and Weaning

Tuesday August 14 at 10:00 AM

Community of Grace Presbyterian Church 

2015 E. Newcastle Drive (8890 S.) 

Sandy, Utah 

(NE corner of Highland Drive and Newcastle Drive)

*

Thank you for supporting our community of nursing mothers! See you Soon!

Enrichment Meeting

Don't forget that we will be having an enrichment meeting this month.  On May 22nd at 10am we will be discussing Gentle Discipline.  This is a wonderful topic that is applicable to babies and children of all ages.  We encourage everyone to come to this meeting as enrichment meetings  are now open to everyone, not just members.  Hope to see you there.

Also, our next series meeting will be held at Willowcreek Park.  Willowcreek Park is located at 8400 South 2000 East in Sandy and is just up the road from our usual meeting location.  This will be a casual meeting where moms can mingle while having the option to ask leaders questions.  A leader will be at the park and available for help, support and questions from 10am until noon.  Bring a sack lunch if you'd like and don't forget the sunscreen!

Looking forward to a fun summer!  See you there!

Nutrition & Weaning

Join us tomorrow, April 10, for Series Meeting # 4: Nutrition and Weaning
Starting solids, family nutrition, enjoying extended nursing, weaning naturally, and practicing loving guidance

Series Meeting Tomorrow

Hope to see you at all 10am tomorrow for our series meeting.  We will be discussing how birth options can help you avoid breastfeeding difficulties.  As always, all interested women and their children who need them are welcome to our meetings.  See you there!

Enrichment Meeting

Don't forget this will be the only enrichment meeting during this series.  So, come join us for Crafts with Kids enrichment meeting.  Come share ideas for fun things to do with toddlers and preschoolers during the cold winter months.

Don't forget!

To nurse your baby, that is!  Unintended weaning can happy during busy or stressful times.  The holiday season is a time we need to remember that our babies still need to nurse, even through the hustle and bustle.  Enjoy this article, Holiday Weaning, and please remember to take it easy, nurse and enjoy the season!

Nutrition during the holidays

Join us for next week's series meeting #4 Nutrition and Weaning where we will discuss nutrition during the holidays.  What are you family's food traditions?  How do you make sure you get proper nutrition nursing through the holidays?  How do you avoid holiday weaning?  How do you keep good intentioned we family members from giving baby foods they're not ready for?  Let's talk about it!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 10:00-11:30am

Changes

La Leche League of Sandy is going through some changes.  Long time leader, Kathy Grossman moved to Moab.  While saying goodbye is hard, we are very happy to welcome a new leader to our ranks!  Meghan Johnston, leader with LLL of Salt Lake City will now be leading with our group as well.

Rocio, Meghan and I (Renee) will be holding series meetings as usual, but our Enrichment meetings will be changing.  We will now only offer three Enrichment meetings per year.  They will be held the first month of each series on the usual day, the fourth Tuesday of the month. For 2012 we will have an Enrichment meeting in January, May and September.

We look forward to a new year full of helping mothers and babies.  Hope to see at our next series meeting on December 13, 2011!