"Help! Breastfeeding Makes Me Feel Bad, Sad or Mad": Helping Breastfeeding Mothers Struggling With Negative Emotions
- Duration: 60 Mins
- Credits: 1 CERP, 1 L-CERP
- Handout: Yes
Abstract:
Breastfeeding can trigger particular negative emotions and intrusive thoughts, these can include experiencing the phenomenon of breastfeeding/nursing aversion and agitation, or having the medical condition of Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. Mothers. These don't preclude having postnatal depression or postnatal mood disorders.
Understanding the nuances and variations in all these conditions and symptoms can lead to better referral, intervention and treatment for those struggling with negative emotions associated with breastfeeding. Being prescribed antidepressants when you have D-MER or Aversion will not always alleviate the symptoms or help the situation.
We cover the literature about when breastfeeding can make someone feel bad, sad or mad, and what we know can help alleviate these negative emotions so as a lactation specialist or health care professional you will become well adept at assessing, referring, signposting, supporting and treating those who struggle. The information and skills you will gain will particularly help in complex cases or cases where there seems to be a missing link.
Learning Objectives:
Objective 1: What the self-reported symptoms of aversion mothers have and the spectrum of emotions and severity of aversion that is experienced, alongside the symptoms of dysphoric milk ejection reflex. They will also learn the risk factors of experiencing aversion.
Objective 2: The similarities and differences of aversion to the medical conditions of postnatal depression, postpartum mood disorders, and of Dysphoric –Milk Ejection Reflex, as well as Sad Nipple Syndrome as part of a differential diagnosis.
Objective 3: The steps to take to alleviate the negative emotions and intrusive thoughts that can be experienced when breastfeeding.
