According to Research, the Oxytocin System in Mothers With Postnatal Depression is Impaired During Breastfeeding

The oxytocin system, which supports the release of breast milk and strengthens the bond between mother and child, may be disrupted in mothers with postnatal depression during breastfeeding, according to a study by researchers at UCL.

How Oxytocin Affects Breast Milk in Women With Postnatal Depression

The study, published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, examined the relationship between maternal mood and oxytocin metabolism during breastfeeding in mothers with and without symptoms of postnatal depression. Oxytocin is a hormone that is released in both the brain and the body. It plays a central role in childbirth and breastfeeding and is involved in social relationships, especially intimacy, and the bonding process in infancy. During breastfeeding, oxytocin triggers the milk ejection reflex, which releases breast milk and is stimulated by skin contact between mothers and their babies. The release of oxytocin also acts on specific regions of the brain to reduce stress and stimulate associated feelings of reward, promoting bonding between mother and child and early child development.

Mothers suffering from postnatal depression report increased stress during breastfeeding and early weaning. Although the social context associated with a mother’s depression is likely to contribute, it is not known whether the oxytocin system may also be affected. Around 10–15% of all women develop postnatal depression after giving birth. The symptoms can be varied and include persistent low mood, restlessness or irritability, fear of failure, emotional coldness, and sleep disorders. This usually affects not only the women concerned, but can also severely impair the quality of life of the entire family.

For the new study, 62 young mothers between the ages of 23 and 44 who had a three- to nine-month-old child were given a nasal spray containing either oxytocin or a placebo before breastfeeding. During breastfeeding, breast milk samples were taken and tested for oxytocin. The team found that the level of oxytocin in breast milk was not affected by the mothers’ initial mood. However, while women without postnatal depression showed an increase in oxytocin levels in breast milk after using a nasal spray containing oxytocin, this effect was less pronounced in mothers with postnatal depression.

Lead author Dr. Kate Lindley Baron-Cohen (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) said: “Our findings suggest that the oxytocin system in young mothers is affected by postnatal depression in relation to breastfeeding. As higher oxytocin levels in mothers are associated with positive effects on the social development and mental health of the child, these findings point to a possible pathway through which infants of mothers with postnatal depression may be at higher risk of later mental health problems.” These findings point to a new avenue of research to further investigate how oxytocin is affected in postnatal depression and what treatment might be most effective in supporting mothers who want to breastfeed but encounter difficulties in doing so.