Correspondence Address:
Dr. Pradumn Sunil Ambekar Ph.D. Student M.S. (Streerog-Prasutitantra) CSMSS Ayurved College, Kanchanwadi, Aurangabad Mob No.-09403050636 Email: dr.pradumnambekar@gmail.com
Date of Acceptance: 2024-11-29
Date of Publication:2024-12-10
Article-ID:IJIM_347_12_24 https://ijim.co.in
Source of Support: Nill
Conflict of Interest: None declared
How To Cite This Article: Ambekar P., Havale A., Deshmukh J. Effect of Maternal Psychological Distress on Lactation: A Review of the Literature. Int J Ind Med 2024;5(11):19-30 DOI: http://doi.org/10.55552/IJIM.2024.51104
Most of studies show close relationship between maternal psychological distress (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression) and breastfeeding outcomes, such as decreased proportion and duration of exclusive breastfeeding. To explain this, we evaluated the evidence for relationships between maternal psychological stress and lactation, and breastfeeding outcomes in pregnancy and postpartum and the possible physiological mechanisms that facilitate these relationships. Psychological distress may impair the release of oxytocin that’s lead to decreased milk production. Maternal distress also yields elevated levels of serum cortisol and decreased insulin sensitivity, which are associated with decreased milk production. The relationship between psychological distress and breastfeeding is likely to be bidirectional, breastfeeding appears to reduce maternal distress, again possibly via their effects on the pleasure/reward and calming effects of oxytocin on the mother.
Keywords: Maternal psychological distress, lactation; breastfeeding.
