New Study Shows Breastfeeding Hormones Make Mothers Happier

Oxytocin is one of the essential hormones between mothers and their babies. According to researchers from Kyoto University and Azabu University in Japan, a new study found that the oxytocin levels correspond to a mother's sensitivity to "happy and angry adults."

These results, which Biology Letters published, provided new understanding on the behavioral impacts of nurturing that's applicable well beyond a mother's response to her baby.

As indicated in the study, Oxytocin is best known for its function in both childbirth and childrearing. It leads to labor contractions and stimulates lactation in the mother.

The study authors said, this essential hormone's effects are not just visible, though. Higher levels of oxytocin, the research found, strengthen the bond between the mother and her baby.

It even has an impact on the manner an individual is dealing with people, as it said to buffer negative feelings like stress and anxiety, among others.

Oxytocin also enhances one's recognition of a positive facial expression as it reduces the recognition of the negative ones.

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Inconsistent Intranasal Oxytocin Studies

Despite said findings, the researchers said that much of the knowledge on oxytocin's behavioral impacts comes from examining populations "who have been administered oxytocin" and has not considered the impacts of oxytocin levels produced naturally.

According to the lead of this new study, Masako Myowa, from the Department of Education at Kyoto University, "Intranasal oxytocin studies are inconsistent."

One of the reasons for this, the lead author added, is that "Individual differences in endogenous oxytocin concentrations and fluctuations are comparatively ignored."

Instead of studying the effects of individuals getting oxytocin, the research team was more curious at investigating how "a primiparous mother's natural oxytocin levels" impacts the way she behaves.

To achieve results, the study authors examined the mothers were reacting prior and after they breastfed, from which they would have varying oxytocin levels, up to images of "human faces."

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Positive and Negative Expressions

The research showed that there was a fair amount of difference in oxytocin between mothers and that this difference linked to their reactions to adult faces that exhibited positive and negative expressions.

The study specifically specified that mothers who had more oxytocin were more apt to recognize both positive and negative expressions.

Essentially, breastfeeding is recommended globally, as it has a lot of benefits for babies. Among these benefits include immunity against several illnesses and infections and even indications that it can contribute to the prevention of obesity.

There are many other benefits breastfeeding can provide mothers, as well. Some of these include a quicker recovery from the birthing process.

There are psychological issues as well, that can develop after birth. One of these problems is postpartum depression. Having an insight on hormonal changes could help determine if a mother is more likely to experience such conditions.

Commenting on their study, Myowa said their main goal is to understand further the psychological and perceptual changes that mothers experience. He also said that their work proposes that levels of natural oxytocin could be an essential factor.

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