Maternal plasma levels of oxytocin during breastfeeding—A systematic review

Moberg, Kerstin Uvnäs; Ekström‐Bergström, Anette; Buckley, Sarah J.; Massarotti, Claudia; Pajalić, Zada; Luegmair, Karolina; Kotlowska, Alicia; Lengler, Luise; Fernández, Ibone Olza; Grylka‐Baeschlin, Susanne; Leahy‐Warren, Patricia; Hadjigeorgiu, Eleni; Villarmea, Stella; Dencker, Anna

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0235806

Cited by 121 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 57 publications

(277 reference statements)

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“…In addition, these studies point to a malfunction of the oxytocin system in mothers who have given birth by caesarean section. These results may explain why caesarean section, in particular elective sections, could be linked to breastfeeding problems, as has been demonstrated in several studies [ 44 , 45 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. These breastfeeding problems could, at least in part, be due to the lower activity in the oxytocin system in the women having given birth by caesarean section.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 61%

Are There Epigenetic Oxytocin-Mediated Effects on the Mother and Infant during Physiological Childbirth?

Uvnäs‐Moberg

Groß

Agius

et al. 2020

IJMS

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Introduction: Studies have shown that long-term positive behavioural and physiological changes are induced in connection with vaginal, physiological birth, and skin-to-skin contact after birth in mothers and babies. Some of these effects are consistent with the effect profile of oxytocin. This scoping review explores whether epigenetic changes of the oxytocin gene and of the oxytocin receptor gene (OTR) are involved in these effects. Methods: We searched Pubmed, Medline, BioMed Central, Cochrane Library, OVID, and Web of Science for evidence of epigenetic changes in connection with childbirth in humans, with a particular focus on the oxytocin system. Results: There were no published studies identified that were related to epigenetic changes of oxytocin and its receptor in connection with labour, birth, and skin-to-skin contact after birth in mothers and babies. However, some studies were identified that showed polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor influenced the progress of labour. We also identified studies in which the level of global methylation was measured in vaginal birth and caesarean section, with conflicting results. Some studies identified differences in the level of methylation of single genes linked to various effects, for example, immune response, metabolism, and inflammation. In some of these cases, the level of methylation was associated with the duration of labour or mode of birth. We also identified some studies that demonstrated long-term effects of mode of birth and of skin-to-skin contact linked to changes in oxytocin function. Conclusion: There were no studies identified that showed epigenetic changes of the oxytocin system in connection with physiological birth. The lack of evidence, so far, regarding epigenetic changes did not exclude future demonstrations of such effects, as there was a definite role of oxytocin in creating long-term effects during the perinatal period. Such studies may not have been performed. Alternatively, the oxytocin linked effects might be indirectly mediated via other receptors and signalling systems. We conclude that there is a significant lack of research examining long-term changes of oxytocin function and long-term oxytocin mediated adaptive effects induced during physiological birth and skin-to-skin contact after birth in mothers and their infants.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 61%

Are There Epigenetic Oxytocin-Mediated Effects on the Mother and Infant during Physiological Childbirth?

Uvnäs‐Moberg

Groß

Agius

et al. 2020

IJMS

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“…The Action worked across disciplines, challenging assumptions and incorporating service users and activists' experiences and knowledges. The papers in this Collection on neurophysiology (both the psychology of neurophysiological events, and oxytocin levels related to breastfeeding and birth interventions) address some of the basic science questions that still remain to be explored in the delicate neurohormonal-psycho-social dance that labour has evolved to be [39,40]. The investigation of thermal imaging as a basis for understanding how physiological labour works is an illustration of the synthesis of knowledge across clinical practice, imaging science, and service user engagement [41,42].…”

Section: Implications For the Cost Birth Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding childbirth as a complex salutogenic phenomenon: The EU COST BIRTH Action Special Collection

et al. 2020

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In 2014, the EU funded a four-year European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action to address the topic of childbirth. The COST Birth Action was a cross-European network, that brought together over 120 scientists, practitioners, activists and policy makers from 34 countries to work on intrapartum care. The central aim was to advance the state of research and practice in a specific area of great clinical and social importance, intrapartum care. The Action used inter and trans-disciplinary approaches to address birth from multiple perspectives and drew on complexity theory and the concept of salutogenesis (wellbeing). This special collection presents six papers produced from the Action and gives a sense of the range and depth of the work conducted. The Collection illustrates the knowledge that can be generated when a diverse group of people come together with a similar goals and perspectives. Underpinning theory of the action The underpinning scientific framework of the Action [1] was complexity theory, applied through the lens of Sackett's multi-system complex adaptive notion of EBM. In contrast to most research in the intrapartum period, it was also designed to explore childbirth from a salutogenic (wellbeing) perspective, with a particular focus on the salutogenic concept of 'sense of coherence'. Complexity theory The promise of classical enlightenment science has been that scientific method based on the idea that A causes B, (a linear hypothesis) can be used to uncover what is true. The belief underpinning this hypothesis is through scientific progress, we will eventually know everything there is to know about the world [2]. The academic and engineering discoveries resulting from this approach led to the marvels of the industrial revolution and a huge number of social and health care improvements. However, over the last thirty years or so there has been a significant move away from reliance on simple linear calculations undertaken in disciplinary silos,

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“…However, drawing clear-cut conclusions on OT plasma levels relating to touch is not easy. Studies in humans often show that ELISA reveals clearer patterns that RIA, suggesting that diverse molecular structures, linear or shorter forms, or even metabolites may be detected by the former method ( 75 , 77 , 78 ). Our ELISA method showing that suckling but not close social interactions releases OT in the plasma is more congruent with studies using RIA in humans and raises questions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…L-368,899 has been shown to alter prosocial behaviors in other species [Rhesus macaque: ( 55 ); marmoset: ( 56 ); naked mole-rat: ( 57 ); prairie vole: ( 83 )] and in many cases authors also validated their results with the complementary use of OT. That OT plays a major role in affiliative behaviors between parents and infants is now widely accepted ( 39 – 41 , 75 , 78 , 84 , 85 ). Despite our concern, there is good reasons to believe that this could be the case in the lamb as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neonatal Suckling, Oxytocin, and Early Infant Attachment to the Mother

et al. 2021

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The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) promotes maternal care and social affiliation in adults but its importance in infant attachment still remains unknown. True animal models of infant attachment are extremely rare, and the sheep (in complement to non-human primates) is one of the few that provides the opportunity to investigate its neuroendocrinological basis. In the lamb, access to the udder has strong rewarding properties for the establishment of a preferential relationship with the mother. Therefore, the present study explored the possible involvement of OT through its release during close social contacts with the mother. The first experiment revealed that lambs having free access to the udder from birth onward developed, by 12 h of age, a clear preference for their mothers over another maternal ewe. Delaying access to the udder for six, four or even only 2 h starting at birth, by covering the ewe’s udder, resulted in the lack of such a preference without affecting general activity. These effects persisted in most cases at 24 h but by 72 h of age a bond with the mother was clearly expressed. Experiment two showed that social interactions with the mother were followed by a release of OT in the plasma when lambs had the possibility to suckle. Non-nutritive interactions were without effects. Preliminary data on two subjects suggested that OT might also increase in the cerebrospinal fluid after suckling. Finally, in the third experiment, oral administration of a non-peptide OT receptor antagonist (L-368-899, Merck) over the first 4 h after birth led to decreased exploration of the mother’s body compared to lambs receiving saline, and impaired the expression of a preference for the mother at 24 h. The effects were no longer observed at 48 h. Our findings demonstrate that both delayed access to the mother’s udder and OT receptor antagonist alter the onset of mother preference in newborn lambs. This suggests that central OT facilitates the development of filial attachment through its release during suckling.

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Maternal plasma levels of oxytocin during breastfeeding—A systematic review

Cited by 121 publications

References 57 publications

Are There Epigenetic Oxytocin-Mediated Effects on the Mother and Infant during Physiological Childbirth?

Are There Epigenetic Oxytocin-Mediated Effects on the Mother and Infant during Physiological Childbirth?

Understanding childbirth as a complex salutogenic phenomenon: The EU COST BIRTH Action Special Collection

Neonatal Suckling, Oxytocin, and Early Infant Attachment to the Mother

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