It was Kerstin Uvnas-Mobervg, MD, PhD from Sweden who gave the "Oxytocin's Role in Psychological Changes in Breastfeeding Women" at ILCA in 1997.  Her studies showed that mice who had oxytocin put into their brains had more maternal behavior and there was no effect on males probably because there is no receptor for oxytocin.  In her outline she says, "Oxytocin lowers blood pressure and cortisol secretion, i.e. inhibits stress.  It also causes sedation and relaxation and enhances social interaction.  In breastfeeding women the levels of oxytocin correlate with calm and the number of oxytocin peaks triggered by breastfeeding correlate not only with the amount of milk ejected but also with the levels of social interaction. "

If a woman is given an epidural, no oxytocin is released in the brain and no maternal behavior results.  A c-section mom may have a harder time breastfeeding because of lack of oxytocin in the early days.  "The absence of the second phase of labor [where there is a great release of oxytocin] and delayed skin-to-skin contact contribute to this immature oxytocin pattern.  Women having had a Cesarean section are less calm and interactive than those having had a vaginal delivery.  This may be related to these different oxytocin patterns."

* Syllabus for ILCA 1997 

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