Högskolan i Skövde

his.sePublications
Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • apa-cv
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Effects of Sucking and Skin-to-Skin Contact on Maternal ACTH and Cortisol Levels During the Second Day Postpartum - Influence of Epidural Analgesia and Oxytocin in the Perinatal Period
University of Skövde, The Systems Biology Research Centre. University of Skövde, School of Life Sciences. Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agriculture, Skara, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0987-8357
Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Reproductive and Perinatal Health Care, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Department of Molecular Medicine, Endocrine and Diabetes Unit, Karolinska University Hospital/Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
University of Skövde, School of Life Sciences. University of Skövde, The Systems Biology Research Centre.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3053-4543
Show others and affiliations
2009 (English)In: Breastfeeding Medicine, ISSN 1556-8253, E-ISSN 1556-8342, Vol. 4, no 4, p. 207-220Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background and Aims: In this study we made a detailed analysis of the mothers' release pattern of adreno-corticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol during a breastfeeding session during the second day postpartum and related these patterns to maternal oxytocin levels as well to the duration of sucking and the duration of skin-to-skin contact before sucking the breast. Furthermore, we investigated if epidural analgesia and oxytocin administration during and after labor influenced the release pattern of ACTH and cortisol.

Methods: Sixty-three primiparae were included in the study. Fourteen received oxytocin intramuscularly postpartum, nine received oxytocin infusion, 14 received epidural analgesia combined with oxytocin infusion, and six received epidural analgesia alone. Twenty mothers did not receive any of these medical interventions. Blood samples were analyzed for ACTH and cortisol by enzyme-linked immunoassay.

Results: Both ACTH and cortisol levels fell significantly during the breastfeeding session. A significant negative relationship was found between oxytocin and ACTH levels, but not between oxytocin and cortisol levels. A contact before onset of sucking was significantly and negatively associated with lower cortisol levels, but not with ACTH levels. Cortisol levels differed significantly between mothers having received epidural analgesia with and without oxytocin.

Conclusions: Breastfeeding is associated with a decrease of ACTH and cortisol levels. Skin-to-skin contact contributes to this effect. ACTH correlated negatively with the duration of sucking and median oxytocin levels, whereas cortisol levels correlated inversely with the duration of skin-to-skin contact preceding sucking, suggesting a partial dissociation between the mechanisms regulating ACTH and cortisol release. In addition, medical interventions in connection with birth influence the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis 2 days after birth.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Mary Ann Liebert, 2009. Vol. 4, no 4, p. 207-220
National Category
Natural Sciences
Research subject
Natural sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:his:diva-3470DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2009.0001ISI: 000276798300005PubMedID: 19731998Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-70350339335OAI: oai:DiVA.org:his-3470DiVA, id: diva2:274992
Available from: 2009-11-02 Created: 2009-11-02 Last updated: 2023-09-07Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Human-Human and Human-Animal Interaction: Some Common Physiological and Psychological Effects
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Human-Human and Human-Animal Interaction: Some Common Physiological and Psychological Effects
2010 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The aim of the present thesis was to investigate hormonal and physiological effects in mothers during a breastfeeding session and in dogs and their owners in response to short-term interaction. In study one, sixty-six mothers receiving either exogenous oxytocin infusion and/or epidural analgesia (EDA) during labor or intramuscular oxytocin injection post partum were studied. Oxytocin, prolactin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels, as well as blood pressure were measured during a breastfeeding session two days after birth. In response to breastfeeding two days after birth, the mothers displayed a pulsatile release of oxytocin and increasing prolactin levels. In addition, the activity in the HPA-axis was reduced and maternal blood pressure decreased. The results also show that EDA administration in combination with oxytocin during labor resulted insignificantly lower oxytocin levels and higher cortisol levels, as well as higher bloodpressure in response to breastfeeding two days after birth, compared to EDA administration alone. In addition, oxytocin infusions dose-dependently lowered the mothers’ endogenous oxytocin levels two days after birth. In study two, ten female dog owners and their male Labrador dogs participated, together with ten controls. Their levels of oxytocin, cortisol and insulin, as well as their heart rate, were measured. The connection between the quality of the dogowner relationship and hormone levels was also explored. Short-term interaction between dogs and their owners resulted in oxytocin release in both species and their cortisol levels and heart rate were also affected. Oxytocin levels and positive attitudes regarding the dog-owner relationship were positively correlated. In conclusion, both human-human and human-animal interactions induce oxytocin release and promote oxytocin mediated effects, such as decreasing cortisol levels and blood pressure. In addition, social interaction and oxytocin levels arepositively related.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2010. p. 88
Series
Acta Universitatis agriculturae Sueciae, ISSN 1652-6880 ; 2010:98
Keywords
oxytocin, cortisol, prolactin, ACTH, blood pressure, medical interventions, sensory stimulation, interaction
National Category
Clinical Science Behavioral Sciences Biology Animal and Dairy Science Other Veterinary Science Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine
Research subject
Natural sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-5212 (URN)978-91-576-7543-9 (ISBN)
Public defence
2011-01-14, Hernqvistaulan, Skara, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2011-07-05 Created: 2011-07-05 Last updated: 2025-02-21Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Other links

Publisher's full textPubMedScopus

Authority records

Handlin, LindaEjdebäck, MikaelNissen, EvaUvnäs-Moberg, Kerstin

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Handlin, LindaEjdebäck, MikaelNissen, EvaUvnäs-Moberg, Kerstin
By organisation
The Systems Biology Research CentreSchool of Life Sciences
In the same journal
Breastfeeding Medicine
Natural Sciences

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn
Total: 2070 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • apa-cv
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf