Effects of intrapartum oxytocin administration and epidural analgesia on the concentration of plasma oxytocin and prolactin, in response to suckling during the second day postpartum
Abstract
Background Oxytocin and prolactin stimulate milk ejection and milk production during breastfeeding. The aim of the present study was to make a detailed analysis of maternal release of oxytocin and prolactin in response to breastfeeding during the second day postpartum in mothers who had received oxytocin either intravenously for stimulation of labor or intramuscularly for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage and/or epidural analgesia or those who had received no such treatment in connection with birth. Methods In a descriptive comparative study plasma oxytocin and prolactin concentrations were measured in response to suckling during the second day postpartum in women who had received intravenous intrapartum oxytocin (n = 8), intramuscular postpartum oxytocin (n = 13), or epidural analgesia, either with (n = 14) or without (n = 6) intrapartum oxytocin infusion, and women who received none of these interventions (n = 20). Hormone levels were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay. Results All mothers showed a pulsatile oxytocin pattern during the first 10 minutes of breastfeeding. Women who had received epidural analgesia with oxytocin infusion had the lowest endogenous median oxytocin levels. The more oxytocin infusion the mothers had received during labor, the lower their endogenous oxytocin levels were during a breastfeeding during the second day postpartum. A significant rise of prolactin was observed after 20 minutes in all women, but after 10 minutes in mothers having received oxy…
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In human mothers, release of oxytocin is catalyzed through sensory nerves in the mother's breasts which release, on average, pulses of oxytocin every 90-s over the first 10 min of breastfeeding.
“In human mothers, release of oxytocin is catalyzed through sensory nerves in the mother’s breasts which release, on average, pulses of oxytocin every 90-s over the first 10 min of breastfeeding (Jonas et al., 2009).”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Jonas et al., 2009
Jonas et al. (2009) found an inverse association such that as the dose of synthetic oxytocin given during labor increased, the level of endogenous oxytocin during breastfeeding postpartum (day 2) decreased.
“Jonas et al. (2009) found an inverse association such that as the dose of synthetic oxytocin given during labor increased, the level of endogenous oxytocin during breastfeeding postpartum (day 2) decreased.”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Jonas et al. (2009)
Women who had both administered oxytocin and an epidural had the lowest endogenous oxytocin levels when breastfeeding compared to other women (natural birth, or epidural but no administered oxytocin).
“Further, women who had both administered oxytocin and an epidural (painkiller) had the lowest endogenous oxytocin levels when breastfeeding compared to other women (natural birth, or epidural but no administered oxytocin).”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Jonas et al. (2009)
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- Authors
- Jonas, W., Johansson, L. M., Nissen, E., Ejdebäck, M., Ransjö-Arvidson, A. B., & Uvnäs-Moberg, K.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- University of Skövde (SE)
- Division of Reproductive and Perinatal Heath Care, Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agriculture, Skara, Sweden.
- Venue
- Breastfeeding Medicine
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-02-11
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 71-82
- ISSN
- 1556-8253 (ISSN-L)
- 1556-8342
- OpenAlex
- W1999906580
- Cited by
- 150
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 5.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Breastfeeding Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Karolinska Institutet
- Vårdal Stiftelsen
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- epidural analgesia, plasma oxytocin, prolactin, suckling, breastfeeding, postpartum period, oxytocin infusion, postpartum hemorrhage prevention, milk ejection
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analgesics, Breast Feeding, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infusions, Intravenous, Injections, Intramuscular, Lactation, Milk Ejection, Milk, Human, Oxytocics, Oxytocin, Prolactin, Sweden, Analgesia, Epidural, Postpartum Period
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