Release of oxytocin and prolactin in response to suckling.
Open accessAbstract
The oxytocin and prolactin responses to suckling were measured in 10 women in early (n = 5) and established lactation (n = 5). Oxytocin was released in a pulsatile manner during suckling in all women, but the response was not related to milk volume, prolactin response, or parity of the mother. In all 10 women plasma oxytocin concentrations increased three to 10 minutes before suckling began. In five women this occurred in response to the baby crying, in three it coincided with the baby becoming restless in expectation of the feed, while in two it corresponded with the mother preparing for the feed. There was no prolactin response to stimuli other than stimulation of the nipple associated with suckling. These results clearly indicate that the milk ejection reflex, with release of oxytocin, occurs in most women before the tactile stimulus of suckling. A second release of oxytocin follows in response to the suckling stimulus itself. Thus it is important that care is taken to protect breast feeding mothers from stress not only during suckling but also immediately before nursing, when conditioned releases of oxytocin will occur.
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Infant crying can release oxytocin and trigger milk ejection in human mothers.
“It has long been appreciated that some forms of nonsomatosensory stimulation can activate oxytocin neurons; for example, infant crying can release oxytocin and trigger milk ejection in human mothers (McNeilly et al. 1983).”
From Oxytocin, Neural Plasticity, and Social Behavior (2021) · cites this paper as McNeilly et al. 1983
Some forms of nonsomatosensory stimulation can activate oxytocin neurons.
“It has long been appreciated that some forms of nonsomatosensory stimulation can activate oxytocin neurons; for example, infant crying can release oxytocin and trigger milk ejection in human mothers (McNeilly et al. 1983).”
From Oxytocin, Neural Plasticity, and Social Behavior (2021) · cites this paper as McNeilly et al. 1983
The sound of a baby cry activates the hypothalamus and triggers oxytocin plasma elevations in human mothers.
“the sound of a baby cry activates the hypothalamus (Lorberbaum et al., 2002) and triggers oxytocin plasma elevations in human mothers (McNeilly et al., 1983)”
From Neuromodulation of maternal circuits by oxytocin (2019) · cites this paper as McNeilly et al., 1983
Infant cries can increase oxytocin levels in new human mothers.
“Suckling triggers the release of oxytocin, but other sensory cues—specifically, infant cries—can increase the levels of oxytocin in new human mothers7”
From Neural circuitry for maternal oxytocin release induced by infant cries (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
In humans, most nursing mothers respond to baby cries with increased hypothalamic activity, rises in plasma oxytocin, comforting behaviours and occasional milk ejection.
“In humans, baby cries are a powerful signal of infant distress, and most nursing mothers respond to cries with increased hypothalamic activity, rises in the levels of plasma oxytocin, comforting behaviours towards the infant and occasional milk ejection7,8.”
From Neural circuitry for maternal oxytocin release induced by infant cries (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
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Cites
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“It has long been appreciated that some forms of nonsomatosensory stimulation can activate oxytocin neurons; for example, infant crying can release oxytocin and trigger milk ejection in human mothers (McNeilly et al. 1983).”
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- Authors
- McNeilly, A. S., Robinson, I. C., Houston, M. J., & Howie, P. W.
- Venue
- BMJ
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 1983-01-22
- Volume
- 286
- Issue
- 6361
- Pages
- 257-259
- ISSN
- 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-5833
- OpenAlex
- W1976557485
- Cited by
- 267
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 7.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.bmj.com/company/legal-information/terms-conditions/legal-information/tdm-licencepolicy (tdm)
- Locations
- BMJ (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Keywords
- oxytocin, prolactin, suckling, milk ejection reflex, lactation, pulsatile hormone secretion, nipple stimulation, maternal stress, breastfeeding
- MeSH terms
- Breast Feeding, Female, Humans, Lactation, Mother-Child Relations, Oxytocin, Pregnancy, Prolactin, Time Factors
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