Does Breastfeeding Protect Mothers' Mental Health?: The Impact of Oxytocin and Stress - Plenary 2

Speaker(s): Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC, FAPA?

Breastfeeding and depression have a complicated relationship; depressed mothers are less likely to breastfeed, yet exclusive breastfeeding lowers the risk of depression. Understanding the physiology of depression helps untangle these apparently contradictory findings. The key is understanding the stress vs oxytocin systems, which mutually suppress each other. Oxytocin suppresses stress, which in turn lowers a mother’s risk. Conversely, when stress is dominant, it suppresses oxytocin, which makes both depression and breastfeeding difficulties more likely. Both skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding release oxytocin, but suckling releases far more via different neurons. Breastfeeding is unique in its ability to inhibit the stress response. Participants will learn about the oxytocin vs stress systems and understand the physiology that protects maternal mental health.