I, too, have been very interested in this topic. I have been wondering if
there is a connection between giving mom exogenous (from an outside source)
oxytocin (OT) in the form of pitocin during labor having any effect on her
ability to produce endogenous (from inside her own body) OT in those first
few hours or days after birth. It would make sense that the receptor sites
would be filled with the exogenous OT and also would interfere with the
body's natural feedback loops, no??? Since we know that OT is needed for MER,
this could be a problem.

Also, the prof in my Neuroendocrinology & Behavior course said something that
I stored away for future study....that parturition (delivery) releases
beta-endorphins that seem to have an analgesic (pain-relieving) effect in
rats. These b-enorphins have an "opiate-like" effect in that they inhibit
smooth muscle (why constipation is a side effect of morphine) causing a
digitalis-like effect on uterine contractions...i.e., making them slower and
stronger to facilitate labor. If we are suppressing these natural
b-endorphins by relieving labor pain with epidurals, are we causing faster,
but weaker contractions, and do these type of contractions interfere with the
body's natural release of OT????

Point to ponder as I continue with my PhD classes, hmmm??? Any thoughts???

Kathy in NJ IBCLC RN C (Maternal-infant), APN C (Family Nurse Practitioner)
 PhD student hoping to study labor and lactation issues

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html