High oxytocin levels during pregnancy might heighten the risk for postpartum depression in new mothers. Scientists at Northwestern University in Illinois have discovered a connection between the cuddle chemical and anxiety in women.
Behavioral science expert Suena Massey told Fox News that her research team's findings would lead to the development of a medical-approved examination which would determine a woman's risk of postpartum depression (PPD).
"It's not ready to become a new blood test yet," Massey said. "But it tells us that we are on the track to identifying biomarkers to help predict postpartum depression."
Massey and her team measured the oxytocin levels of 66 expectant mothers during their third trimester of pregnancy. The researchers found that higher oxytocin levels meant that women are more likely to experience postpartum depression symptoms.
According to Your Hormones, oxytocin is responsible for assisting the female body during labor. It signals the uterine muscles to contract. Oxytocin also increases the production of prostaglandins, which speed up contractions even more.
Oxytocin is usually released in both men and women during kissing, hugging, nursing babies and sexual activity. This is why many call it the "love hormone." For new mothers, oxytocin promotes lactation by guiding milk into the breast during breastfeeding. Simultaneously, oxytocin tells the brain to produce more oxytocin to facilitate the smooth flow of milk from mother to baby.
Massey and company thought low oxytocin levels meant less stressed out mothers. However, the study discovered that insufficient amounts of the cuddle chemical make women more prone to postpartum depression.
"Perhaps, when women are starting to experience early signs of depression, their bodies release more oxytocin to combat it," she explained. "If we can identify the women during pregnancy who are destined to develop postpartum depession, we can begin preventive treatment."
The American Psychological Association reported that 1 in 7 women experience severe cases of post partum depression like delusions and hallucinations. Milder symptoms include feeling sad, lonely, fatigued or anxious.
