A new study from University College London (UCL) has uncovered a potential link between postnatal depression and breastfeeding difficulties—with the hormone oxytocin playing a key role. Published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, the research suggests that depression after childbirth may interfere with oxytocin’s function, making breastfeeding harder for affected mothers.
What Is Oxytocin?
Oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” is produced in the brain and helps regulate social bonding, trust, and emotional connections. It is especially important for mother-infant bonding. Beyond its psychological effects, oxytocin also triggers the “let-down reflex,” which releases breast milk during feeding.
How Oxytocin Supports Breastfeeding
During breastfeeding, oxytocin is released in both mother and baby through skin-to-skin contact and suckling. This creates a feedback loop—more oxytocin leads to more milk flow and a stronger emotional bond. Normally, this process helps mothers feel relaxed and connected to their infants.
Postnatal Depression’s Impact
Postnatal depression affects about 20% of new mothers, often causing feelings of sadness, anxiety, and detachment from their baby. Many depressed mothers report stress during breastfeeding and difficulties with milk release, leading to early weaning.
Previous research hinted that depression might disrupt oxytocin function, but evidence was limited. The UCL team set out to test this theory.
The Study
The researchers studied 62 mothers, aged 23 to 44, with infants between 3 and 9 months old. Participants used a nasal spray before breastfeeding—either containing oxytocin or a placebo. Breast milk samples were then analyzed.
Key Findings
Oxytocin nasal spray increased oxytocin levels in breast milk, confirming its role in feeding.
However, mothers with postnatal depression showed a weaker oxytocin response compared to non-depressed mothers.
This suggests depression may disrupt oxytocin’s function, making breastfeeding more challenging.
A weakened oxytocin response could also affect mother-infant bonding and even influence the baby’s developing social brain. This might explain why children of depressed mothers sometimes face emotional difficulties later in life.
Improving Support for Mothers
The findings highlight a biological reason why some depressed mothers struggle with breastfeeding. Future treatments could focus on boosting oxytocin function to improve both feeding and bonding.
Lead researchers emphasize the need for further studies to develop better support for affected mothers and their babies during this critical period.
Why This Matters:
For mothers: Better understanding of breastfeeding challenges could lead to targeted therapies.
For healthcare providers: Insights may improve postnatal care strategies.
For policymakers: Supports the need for mental health resources in maternal care.
This study opens new doors in addressing postnatal depression’s hidden biological effects—potentially improving outcomes for both mothers and babies.
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