I certainly agree that stress contributes to many underlying diseases including problems with milk ejection reflex. (refer to research on stress and a milk cow’s inability to let milk down)
Oxytocin is an ancient hormone that is present in some form in all vertebrates. Research shows that it may be essential for the reproduction and feeding of all mammals as well as modulation of many socially related behaviors. We probably would not have survived as a species without it.
I did not mean to insinuate that a mother’s emotional state is not connected to oxytocin release, only that we need to be careful about excluding other causes. (after all, not too many years ago my relatively unstressed father was referred to a psychiatrist for his severe stomach ulcer because at that time we didn’t believe in anything like H. Pylori.)
Humans CAN be deficient in oxytocin. Review the information on The Pituitary Society website (pituitarysociety.org) that links deficiencies in pituitary hormones (including oxytocin) to pituitary adenomas, hypophysitis, tuberculosis, meningitis, sarcoidosis, histiocytosis, hemochromatosis, and Sheehan’s syndrome. They also state that “complete oxytocin deficiency could make breastfeeding difficult.”
Here is an interesting (older) study on the effects of thyroid hormone on oxytocin.
THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 0 1992 by The American Society for Biochemiatry and Molecular Biology, Inc. Thyroid Hormone Regulates the Oxytocin Gene* (Received for publication, October 3, 1991) Roger A. H. Adan#, Joke J. Cox, Jorge P. van Kats, and J. Peter H. Burbachg
Warmly,
Holly McSpadden
________________________________
From: Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Nikki Lee <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2018 8:30 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Oxytocin spray
Dear Lactnet Friends:
Holly wonders why: " is it that we can all agree that the way that mom’s
other hormones (besides oxytocin) are present or not present and interact
at crucial times during pregnancy and lactation can have a tremendous
impact on lactation but when a mom is having difficulty with “let down” we
blame it on stress??"
The answer is that oxytocin release is facilitated by the mother's
emotional state. While she's learning to breastfeed, her environment
ideally should be private, safe, and warm, so she stays in the 'calm and
content' pathways of her nervous system.
Imagine lovemaking in the lobby of a train station: who would do that? And
if it was possible, or legal, how enjoyable would it be. Lovemaking is an
oxytocin rich event. Who wants to do it when we have a headache, or aren't
feeling open towards our partner, or when we are forced?
Learning to breastfeed is like this. Once her pathways are conditioned, she
can breastfeed anywhere, even during a war. Conditioning the MER takes
privacy, safety and time.
Thyroid workings or pancreas workings don't depend on her emotional state.
What do you all think?
warmly,
--
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC
Reviews Editor,* Clinical Lactation*
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