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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 .
During pregnancy, the syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placenta produce a polypeptide hormone, human placental lactogen (hPL), also known as human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS). [ 17 ] in six weeks of gestation , production of hPL in maternal plasma is detected, then the concentration of hPL keeps increasing until week 30 of pregnancy. [ 17 ]
It is possible for a mother to continue breastfeeding an older sibling while also breastfeeding a new baby; this is called tandem nursing. During the late stages of pregnancy, the milk changes to colostrum. While some children continue to breastfeed even with this change, others may wean. Most mothers can produce enough milk for tandem nursing ...
High levels of prolactin during pregnancy and breastfeeding also increase insulin resistance, increase growth factor levels (IGF-1) and modify lipid metabolism in preparation for breastfeeding. During lactation, prolactin is the main factor maintaining tight junctions of the ductal epithelium and regulating milk production through osmotic balance.
During the time immediately after birth, both the mother and the baby are hormonally cued to bond, the mother through the release of oxytocin, a hormone also released during breastfeeding. Studies show that skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her newborn immediately after birth is beneficial for both the mother and baby.
A commonly mentioned hormone in parenting is oxytocin, [1] however many other hormones relay key information that results in variations in behavior. These include estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, cortisol, and testosterone. While hormones are not necessary for the expression of maternal behavior, they may influence it. [4]
A woman's breasts change during pregnancy to prepare them for breastfeeding a baby. Normal changes include: Tenderness of the nipple or breast; An increase in breast size over the course of the pregnancy; Changes in the color or size of the nipples and areola; More pronounced appearance of Montgomery's tubercles (bumps on the areola)
Witch's milk occurs in newborns and is typically due to maternal hormones that cross the placenta during pregnancy. These hormones can stimulate the infant's mammary glands to produce milk, a condition that is relatively common, affecting about 5% of newborns. [32]