Vivian Gu1, Nancy Feeley2, Ian Gold3, Barbara Hayton4, Stephanie Robins4, Anna Mackinnon1, Simcha Samuel1, C Sue Carter5, Phyllis Zelkowitz4. 1. Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 2. Centre for Nursing Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. 3. Department of Philosophy, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. 5. Kinsey Institute, University of Indiana, Bloomington, IN, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Synthetic oxytocin (synOT) is commonly used in labor management to induce and augment labor, and to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. However, its long-term consequences for maternal health and behavior are largely understudied. We examined the relationship between synOT and maternal oxytocin levels, breastfeeding, and maternal mental health at 2 months postpartum. METHODS: Women were recruited during pregnancy or within 48 hours of giving birth through obstetric practices and hospitals. A total of 386 women were visited in their homes at 2 months postpartum, where they completed questionnaires assessing breastfeeding, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and somatization. Oxytocin levels were obtained from blood samples and synOT dosage information was gathered from hospital charts. RESULTS: Intrapartum synOT dose was positively correlated with endogenous oxytocin levels at 2 months postpartum. Women who were exclusively breastfeeding at 2 months postpartum had received significantly less synOT compared with their nonexclusively breastfeeding counterparts. Higher synOT dose was associated with greater depressive, anxious, and somatization symptoms. SynOT dose was not associated with perinatal posttraumatic stress. CONCLUSIONS: The widespread use of synOT in managed labor warrants caution, as the influence of synOT on a new mother's well-being is evident at 2 months postpartum.
BACKGROUND: Synthetic oxytocin (synOT) is commonly used in labor management to induce and augment labor, and to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. However, its long-term consequences for maternal health and behavior are largely understudied. We examined the relationship between synOT and maternal oxytocin levels, breastfeeding, and maternal mental health at 2 months postpartum. METHODS:Women were recruited during pregnancy or within 48 hours of giving birth through obstetric practices and hospitals. A total of 386 women were visited in their homes at 2 months postpartum, where they completed questionnaires assessing breastfeeding, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and somatization. Oxytocin levels were obtained from blood samples and synOT dosage information was gathered from hospital charts. RESULTS: Intrapartum synOT dose was positively correlated with endogenous oxytocin levels at 2 months postpartum. Women who were exclusively breastfeeding at 2 months postpartum had received significantly less synOT compared with their nonexclusively breastfeeding counterparts. Higher synOT dose was associated with greater depressive, anxious, and somatization symptoms. SynOT dose was not associated with perinatal posttraumatic stress. CONCLUSIONS: The widespread use of synOT in managed labor warrants caution, as the influence of synOT on a new mother's well-being is evident at 2 months postpartum.
Authors: Aimee R Kroll-Desrosiers; Benjamin C Nephew; Jessica A Babb; Yurima Guilarte-Walker; Tiffany A Moore Simas; Kristina M Deligiannidis Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2017-02 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: Taylor A Thul; Elizabeth J Corwin; Nicole S Carlson; Patricia A Brennan; Larry J Young Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2020-07-06 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: Deirdre Daly; Karin C S Minnie; Alwiena Blignaut; Ellen Blix; Anne Britt Vika Nilsen; Anna Dencker; Katrien Beeckman; Mechthild M Gross; Jessica Pehlke-Milde; Susanne Grylka-Baeschlin; Martina Koenig-Bachmann; Jette Aaroe Clausen; Eleni Hadjigeorgiou; Sandra Morano; Laura Iannuzzi; Barbara Baranowska; Iwona Kiersnowska; Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg Journal: PLoS One Date: 2020-07-28 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: A B Witteveen; C A I Stramrood; J Henrichs; J C Flanagan; M G van Pampus; M Olff Journal: Arch Womens Ment Health Date: 2019-08-06 Impact factor: 3.633