The WHO recommends exclusively breastfeeding our baby for the first six months of life and later accompanied by other foods until two years or more, whenever the mother and baby wish.
We know that breastfeeding brings multiple benefits, not only for the baby but also for the mother. However, breastfeeding is not always easy and, with some frequency, difficulties appear that make the mother consider abandoning it. The agitation of breastfeeding is one of them, which usually appears in older children (it is rare that we see it with babies under one year of age).
What is the agitation of breastfeeding?
The agitation of breastfeeding is a set of negative and unexpected sensations that some women suddenly experience while breastfeeding. In English it is known as BAA: breastfeeding aversion and agitation , that is, agitation and aversion to breastfeeding . Mothers describe it as a feeling of rejection, of aversion, which collides with their desire to continue breastfeeding.
There is very little information on this in the scientific literature, but we did find a fairly large qualitative study published in 2017, involving 694 women. In it, the main sensations and emotions experienced by mothers who suffer from the agitation of breastfeeding are described. More recently, in 2021, a meta-analysis about women experiencing feelings of aversion while breastfeeding was published and the conclusions were similar.
Most women describe feelings of rage and anger , as well as irritation and agitation while breastfeeding. But in addition to feelings, many mothers have physical symptoms, which they describe as tingling , or “itchy skin.” Some also report pain in the nipples.
The description of wanting to release the child / baby is very repeated. ” Suddenly you need your child to unhook quickly, you can’t bear to be hooked to the chest .” Another mother reported that “sometimes I needed to let go of my chest and take a breath.”
Some mothers even admit to having violent thoughts towards their baby. It is important to note that these feelings are uncontrollable, mothers cannot avoid them.
In contrast to all these unpleasant sensations, both physical and emotional, mothers want to continue breastfeeding , knowing the benefits of breastfeeding and knowing that it is best for their children. This creates a significant internal conflict . On the one hand, they cannot stand when their child is nursing; on the other, they want to continue doing it because they know what is best for them.
The intensity of the feelings varies from moderate to severe depending on the women and, in most cases, these sensations last throughout the shot.
Why is it produced?
The cause is not clear, and it is that there is little research on this topic. Only a few scientific articles appear reviewing this concept. It seems to appear more frequently in mothers who breastfeed older children (over one year), those who breastfeed while on board, and those who breastfeed in tandem . It has also been described by some women in relation to their ovulation and / or menstruation .
Hormones are therefore thought to play an important role in this situation. In fact, during pregnancy the nipples are hypersensitive and there are numerous hormonal changes, which can make breastfeeding an uncomfortable and even painful sensation.
There is also the theory that it is a natural way to encourage weaning or an unconscious need for our babies to grow. This is the case in other animal species: there comes a time when mothers stop breastfeeding their young and encourage them to find food for themselves.
How is it different from D-MER?
D-MER stands for Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex . In this case, unpleasant and annoying sensations also appear during breastfeeding but, unlike in the agitation of breastfeeding, they only last for the first few minutes of feeding.
The reason seems to be a sharp drop in dopamine (a hormone and neurotransmitter released by the hypothalamus) at the start of the ejection reflex. In these cases, knowing that it is a recognized entity helps mothers to reduce anxiety, as well as being distracted during the first minutes of the feeding.
What can I do to avoid it?
Since the exact cause is not known, it is difficult to know what we can do to avoid it. However, there are some strategies that have helped some mothers cope.
-
Identify what happens to us . This first step is essential. Knowing what is happening to us and knowing what happens to many other women helps a lot. Talking about it in a breastfeeding group, with friends or family, or turning to a professional trained in breastfeeding can be helpful.
-
Having some distraction while the child is breastfeeding: thinking about something else, listening to music, reading, looking at the mobile … In the case of breastfeeding in tandem, it sometimes helps to focus on the little one.
-
Reduce the number of shots . In the case of older children, you can negotiate with them: take fewer shots and / or make them shorter, that only take place at a specific time of day …
-
Rest . The agitation of breastfeeding has also been linked to fatigue and stress, so getting more rest may help mitigate these feelings.
Agitation from breastfeeding does not usually last forever. Mothers who have managed to cope with it and have been able to continue breastfeeding report that these feelings diminish and even disappear. However, in times of stress or fatigue or with hormonal changes they can reappear. Some endure because they know it is good for their baby, others because they remember when breastfeeding was pleasant and happy and that memory pushes them to continue.
In some cases, none of these guidelines work and the situation becomes untenable so the mother decides to wean. Many mothers feel guilty then, frustrated; but many also report feeling relief, because the feeling of rejection disappears. It is important to try to drive away that feeling of guilt. Breastfeeding has two parts, and if either does not want to continue, weaning occurs. We can carry out a respectful weaning so that both mother and baby carry it as well as possible.
In Babies and more | My baby refuses to breast: what to do about a lactation strike
