Abstract / Summary
Abstract Background Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER) causes brief negative emotions immediately before or during milk let-down, yet prevalence and clinical support remain limited. Objective To determine D-MER prevalence among breastfeeding mothers in Malaysia and examine its association with mother-infant bonding and D-MER features. Methods In this cross-sectional study, Malaysian breastfeeding mothers were recruited by convenience sampling. D-MER and mother-infant bonding were assessed using the D-MER Questionnaire and Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire. Data from 218 mothers with a youngest child aged ≤ 2 years were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results D-MER prevalence was 17.0% (about 1 in 6 mothers). Impaired mother-infant bonding occurred in 16.5%. D-MER was associated with greater bonding difficulties, with affected mothers reporting poorer bonding. Conclusion D-MER affects a notable proportion of Malaysian breastfeeding mothers and is associated with poorer mother-infant bonding, highlighting the need for improved maternal health literacy and healthcare professional education.