Lea Grover was a firm advocate of breastfeeding, having nursed her twins since birth.
She was enjoying breastfeeding her third child also, even though her new baby was not a great nurser.
But one day sitting in the garden, Lea suddenly found she couldn't breathe.
"My vision blurred, a rushing sound filled my ears, and it felt like I my whole body was trembling."
"And then, as suddenly as quickly as it had come over me, the feeling was gone. I was shaky and weak and confused, my mouth was dry, but I was okay."
"Before I could say any of that, my milk let down."
Lea put it down to a panic attack and then nursed her baby.
The bizarre attacks recurred over the weekend, each lasting only a minute or so, each followed by a letdown.
"I’d become so depressed, it bordered on suicidal, and even though my daughter was only nursing a few times a day, the panic attacks lasted longer."
"But my daughter wouldn’t take a bottle, so I went on nursing," Lea explained.
Lea didn't know what was causing the attacks but finally realised she was suffering from a condition called Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex or D-MER.
D-MER is characterised by negative emotions, that occur seconds before a mother’s milk ejection reflex when breastfeeding or expressing or with a spontaneous MER (ie milk releasing when not breastfeeding or expressing).
It's caused by a hormone imbalance and a reduction in the "feel-good" chemical dopamine.
Most sufferers only have a mild case, however in Lea's was severe.
It's not known how common this imbalance is.
The good news is it can be treated with medication and you can continue to nurse.
Seek medical advice, if you are having problems with breastfeeding.
