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Oxytocin is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide normally produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. [4] Present in animals since early stages of evolution, in humans it plays roles in behavior that include social bonding, love, reproduction, childbirth, and the period after childbirth.
An increase in levels of oxytocin, glucocorticoids, estrogen and prolactin occur in the paternal brain. [13] [59] These hormonal changes occur through the father's interaction with the mother and his offspring. [1] Oxytocin levels are positively correlated with the amount of affection the father displays towards the child. [60]
Oxytocin is released when a mother cares for her child, making the interaction pleasurable. Mothers that report high levels of infant-mother bonding and demonstrate responsive and sensitive parenting generally show increased levels of OT and brain reward center activation during play sessions.
Oxytocin levels in human females are associated with the degree of physical affection and bonding. Feldman (2010) found that mothers who displayed “high affectionate contact” had increased oxytocin levels post interaction, but not mothers who displayed “low affectionate contact. [22] ”
In most mammalian species, the mother bites through the cord and consumes the placenta, primarily for the benefit of prostaglandin on the uterus after birth. [citation needed] This is known as placentophagy. However, it has been observed in zoology that chimpanzees apply themselves to nurturing their offspring, and keep the fetus, cord, and ...
The presence of hCG in a woman's body indicates that a fertilized egg has implanted in the uterus and the placenta has started to form. 10 days after fertilization, significant hCG can be detected from woman's blood sample. [6] The levels of hCG in the body increase rapidly in the first few weeks of pregnancy, doubling every 48–72 hours. [7]
At birth, female babies have around 1 to 2 million oocytes, and roughly 1,000 immature eggs are lost each month after the first period. In their late 30s, most women have about 25,000 oocytes ...
Oxytocin contracts the smooth muscle of the uterus during and after birth, and during orgasm(s). After birth, oxytocin contracts the smooth muscle layer of band-like cells surrounding the alveoli to squeeze the newly produced milk into the duct system. Oxytocin is necessary for the milk ejection reflex, or let-down, in response to suckling, to ...