Lactation Works With Pauleen

16/03/2026

Oxytocin system of breastfeeding affected in mothers with postnatal depression
14 March 2025
The oxytocin system – which helps release breast milk and strengthens the bond between mother and baby – may be affected during breastfeeding in mothers experiencing postnatal depression, finds a new study by UCL researchers.
The new research, published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, investigated the link between maternal mood and the oxytocin pathway during breastfeeding, in mothers with and without symptoms of postnatal depression.
Oxytocin is a hormone that is released in both the brain and body. It plays a central role in childbirth and breastfeeding, and is involved in social relationships, especially intimacy, and the attachment process during infancy.
In breastfeeding, oxytocin triggers the ‘let-down’ reflex that releases the mother’s milk and is stimulated in both mothers and their baby by skin-to-skin touch.
Oxytocin release also interacts with specific brain regions to reduce stress and stimulate reward associated with this, facilitating mother-infant bonding and early infant development.
Mothers experiencing postnatal depression report increased stress during breastfeeding and early weaning. Although the social context related to a mother’s depression likely contributes to this, it has not been known whether the oxytocin system may also be affected.
In the UK, postnatal depression affects more than one in every 10 women within a year of giving birth, symptoms include persistent low mood, feeling agitated or irritable, and trouble sleeping,
For the new study, 62 new mothers aged between 23 and 44 years old, who had an infant between three and nine months old, were each given a nasal spray prior to breastfeeding, containing either oxytocin or a placebo.
Breast milk samples were collected during breastfeeding and analysed for oxytocin. The team found that oxytocin levels in breast milk were not affected by mothers’ mood at baseline.
However, while oxytocin was seen to increase in the breast milk of women without postnatal depression after using a nasal spray containing the hormone, this effect was reduced in mothers experiencing postnatal depression.
Lead author, Dr Kate Lindley Baron-Cohen (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) said: “Our findings indicate that the oxytocin system is affected by postnatal depression in new mothers in the context of breastfeeding. Since higher levels of oxytocin in mothers are associated with positive outcomes in a child’s social development and in their mental health, these results point to a possible pathway through which infants of mothers experiencing postnatal depression may be at greater risk of later mental health vulnerabilities.”
These findings indicate a new direction for research, to further explore how oxytocin is affected in postnatal depression, and what the most effective treatment could be to support mothers who would like to breastfeed but are experiencing challenges.
The research was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research ARC North Thames, the Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the University of York, the Fund for Psychoanalytic Research through the American Psychoanalytic Association, the International Psychoanalytical Association, the Michael Samuel Charitable Trust, the Denman Charitable Trust, and the Galvani Foundation.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/mar/oxytocin-system-breastfeeding-affected-mothers-postnatal-depression?

Reference:
Kate Lindley Baron-Cohen, Pasco Fearon, Ruth Feldman, Paul Hardiman, Orna Zagoory-Sharon, Elizabeth Meins, Peter Fonagy,
Intranasal oxytocin increases breast milk oxytocin, but has a reduced effect in depressed mothers: A randomized controlled trial,
Psychoneuroendocrinology,
Volume 174,
2025,
107374,
ISSN 0306-4530,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107374.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453025000976)
Abstract: Oxytocin (OT) plays pivotal roles in stress regulation, mother–infant bonding, and breastfeeding, all of which are adversely impacted by postnatal depression (PND). In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, we assessed endogenous OT concentrations first in the breast milk of new mothers at baseline, and second following the administration of exogenous OT compared to a placebo delivered via a nasal spray.
Method
Participants were mothers (N = 62, aged 23–42 years) and their infants (aged 3–9 months). Each mother underwent screening for PND symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). N = 26 mothers scored above the cut-off point (≥9) on the EPDS, and N = 36 mothers scored below. Breast milk samples, collected during breastfeeding, were assayed for OT content.
Results
Baseline endogenous OT concentration in breast milk was not associated with maternal low mood. Exogenous OT administration was associated with a significant increase in breast milk OT, but with reduced effect in mothers experiencing symptoms of PND compared to control mothers.
Conclusions
Future studies should test if breast milk OT exhibits a protective role against the developmental disadvantages of maternal PND on children. The current findings may reflect a possible disruption of the interaction between the central and peripheral OT pathways during breastfeeding in mothers experiencing symptoms of PND. These insights shed new light on the potential biological mechanisms involved in the transference of mental health vulnerabilities from mothers to infants.
Keywords: Breast milk; Oxytocin; Postnatal depression; Mood

14/03/2026

Babies mirror parents from 8 weeks.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

14/03/2026

Friend or Foe? What has your experience been like with this silicone, milk catcher?

Some mothers are advised to express breastmilk in addition to breastfeeding their newborn "to build a good supply" and/or store breastmilk in a freezer in case breastmilk is needed sometime in the future. This takes additional time and energy, and removing more milk than baby needs each day can lead to full sore breasts. The mother may then express again for comfort, which makes the oversupply worse. This can increase the risk of breast inflammation, pain and mastitis, and also create challenges for the baby due to rapid flow and volume during breastfeeds.
A breastfeeding mother's breastmilk supply naturally adjusts to meet her baby's changing appetite over time, in direct response to how her baby feeds. When baby is growing rapidly he may feed more frequently and the mother's breastmilk supply responds accordingly, including adapting the specific nutrients in her milk to perfectly match baby's changing needs. "Using a silicone milk catcher may result in more milk being removed from the breasts than baby needs, creating an oversupply" Source: https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/oversupply Visit ABA website for further guidance, or contact an IBCLC

11/03/2026

Thanks for this amazing, interesting interview Abigail. This is so helpful for other adoptees to watch!

11/03/2026

Breastmilk is the best medicine, no doubt about it! Apply to mosquitos bites and nappy rash as an anti-inflammatory, instil in nose and eyes as an antibiotic. Mom's breast milk is like a white blood transfusion full of alive stem cells and white blood cells, it's sweet and delicious and soothing, as it goes down baby's nose, much nicer that salty nose sprays!

🧠✨ A drop of breast milk… in the nose?
Science says it might help protect the brain!!!

A newly published clinical study explored intranasal administration of fresh mother’s breast milk for babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

HIE is a serious condition caused by reduced oxygen and blood flow to the brain around the time of birth and is a major cause of neonatal mortality and long-term neurological disability. 

Researchers investigated whether giving a small amount of fresh breast milk into the nose could be safe and feasible for these infants.

Here’s what they did:

• Fresh mother’s milk expressed within 4 hours was used
• 0.4 mL was placed in each nostril
• Given twice daily starting within the first 48 hours of life
• Continued until day 28

The results from the clinical study showed:
✔ The treatment was feasible in both the NICU and at home
✔ It was well tolerated with no adverse events reported
✔ Parents were able to safely continue the therapy after discharge 

Why might this work?
Breast milk contains stem cells, neurotrophic factors, growth factors, immune cells, and anti-inflammatory compounds that may support brain repair and neurodevelopment. 

The intranasal route is particularly interesting because it may allow substances to reach the brain through pathways connected to the nasal cavity, potentially bypassing the blood-brain barrier. 

This early clinical study mainly demonstrated safety and feasibility. Larger studies are still needed to determine whether it improves long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Still, it highlights something remarkable!!
Human milk is not just nutrition. It’s biologically active medicine.

Science is still uncovering just how powerful it can be. 🧬

Tarjanyi E, Jermendy A, Szabo M, Brandt FA, Szasz B, Nyilas N, Meder U. F-NEO-BRIGHT: feasibility and safety of intranasal fresh breast milk in neonatal encephalopathy. Pediatr Res. 2026 Mar 3. doi: 10.1038/s41390-026-04847-2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41776367.

09/03/2026

Donor milk: giving hope and life to premature babies fighting for survival.
Milk Matters

Sometimes though, a mother is not able to provide the breastmilk her baby needs – and what alternative is used matters.

09/03/2026

Thanks for sharing Julie. Yes I advise mothers to limit use of their silver caps and to not especially go out and buy a pair as they are pretty pricy. Macerated ni***es are a concern with them and the pressure they cause to the delicate, and mostly superficial milk ducts, found in the 3cm from ni**le area in the ar**la, I found can cause sensitive ni***es and blocked milk ducts if overused.Some mothers love them.
It is important to find the cause of ni**le sensitivity and damaged ni***es. Get help from a Lactation Consultant if you are not able to achieve a comfortable lacth and effective sucking.
I'm here to help,
Pauleen Nelson IBCLC Lactation Consultant, Midwife

7 Ways Moms Are Using Silver Nursing Cups Wrong (and What To Do Instead)

1️⃣ Wearing them dry
Many place the cups over the ni**le with completely dry skin
Instead:
Express a few drops of breastmilk into the cup before placing it on the ni**le. Breastmilk plus the silver cup helps create the moist healing environment that supports skin recovery. Just be careful not to marinate the ni**le in too much milk

2️⃣ Using them with ni**le creams or ointments
Silver cups are often layered with lanolin, ni**le balms, or ointments. This renders them ineffective for healing. It’s the actual silver touching the skin that promotes wound healing
Instead:
Use the cups alone (other than a small amount of breast milk). The antimicrobial properties of silver and the moist environment from breastmilk do the work. Adding creams can trap residue and reduce effectiveness and can increase the likelihood of infection

3️⃣ Wearing them too tightly against the breast
If the bra presses the cups firmly into the breast tissue, it can create pressure on milk ducts.
Instead:
Make sure the cups sit lightly against the ni**le only, without compressing the surrounding breast tissue. Excess pressure on the breast can contribute to plugged ducts and mastitis in some people. I’ve also see painful red circles around the ar**la that can cause engorgement

4️⃣Using them instead of fixing the root problem
Silver cups can help protect the skin, but they don’t fix issues like shallow latch, oral restrictions, or pump fl**ge problems
Instead:
If pain or damage persists, get help from a qualified lactation professional to address the cause of the trauma

5️⃣Not cleaning them regularly
Some assume silver never needs cleaning.
Instead:
Rinse with warm water and occasionally wash with mild soap. Dry thoroughly before reuse. If they tarnish make a paste with baking soda to scrub them clean

6️⃣Wearing them 24/7 without any air time
Some parents keep silver cups on continuously day and night.
Instead:
Give ni***es some periodic air exposure, especially if the skin becomes overly moist or macerated. Wear them 4 hours in, 4 hours off and remove them at least 30-60 minutes before feeding

7️⃣Ignoring signs of a silver sensitivity or allergy
Although uncommon, some mothers can develop metal sensitivity that causes redness, itching, rash, burning, or worsening irritation.
Instead:
If symptoms begin or worsen after starting silver cups, stop using them and see if the irritation improves. Some may do better with alternatives like breast shells or hydrogel pads.

✨ Silver nursing cups can be helpful for protecting sore ni***es, but they work best when used correctly and they don’t replace addressing the underlying cause of ni**le pain.

09/03/2026

The days and nights are such a blur in those first 6weeks. A feed tracker is very helpful for most mothers.Time to stop tracking feeds if it makes mom over anxious.

Baby apps have made it really easy to track exactly how long your baby spends eating

But the real question is… how important is all that data, actually?

Most parents track closely during the first ~6 weeks postpartum
This is when everyone is learning how to eat and many newborns are adjusting to the shocking realization they’re no longer connected to an umbilical cord

Tracking can be helpful during this time, especially for the big picture things we care about

• Making sure newborns are feeding AT LEAST every 3 hours
• Counting diapers
• Monitoring weight gain

But the exact number of minutes a baby spends feeding can vary a lot

Because feeding is a human skill
And every feeder feeds differently

• Timing can be helpful if something feels off
If your baby is actively nursing for 90 minutes but only sleeping 10 minutes before needing to eat again, that pattern is worth looking at

• The “15–20 minutes per side” rule is just a guideline
Some babies can transfer the same amount of milk in 6 minutes that another baby takes 30+ minutes
Different babies, different speeds

But feeding constantly without weight gain is just as much of a red flag as a baby who rarely feeds

It helps to watch the baby instead of the clock
A pain free latch with baby having open hands and a relaxed goes along with the bigger indicators of good eating:
• Steady weight gain
• 6+ very wet diapers in 24 hours
• Daily stools in the first 6 weeks

Over time many babies do get faster and more efficient at feeding. Don’t let growth spurts and cluster feeding or extra nursing always make you think the worst about milk supply or baby’s feeding

When parents ask me if they should track feedings, I usually ask one question: Are numbers going to ease your anxiety… or increase it?

For some families tracking is incredibly helpful when you’re exhausted and can’t remember the last feeding

For others it turns into a tiny spreadsheet that makes them second guess every feed

If you love tracking apps, totally fine! Just remember
babies are humans, not predictable gas tanks that need filled.
If something feels off, work with an IBCLC lactation consultant right away.

Did the app help or hurt you?

08/03/2026

Thanks Julie.