Summary: A new study shows that oxytocin nasal spray helps mothers with postpartum depression interact more positively with their babies. After receiving oxytocin, mothers expressed more warmth, affection, and physical contact, reporting a greater sense of positivity during playtime.
However, the spray did not improve caregiving sensitivity or reduce stress levels, suggesting its benefits are specific to emotional connection. Researchers propose that physical touch and closeness may also naturally boost oxytocin, offering avenues for supportive interventions.
Key facts:
- Oxytocin spray increased maternal warmth, smiles, and affection toward infants.
- The hormone did not improve caregiving skills or lower stress markers like cortisol.
- Researchers recommend exploring skin-to-skin contact and baby massage as natural ways to enhance bonding.
Source: Radboud University
Researchers at Radboud University and the Radboudumc found that mothers with postpartum depression benefit from oxytocin nasal spray. The oxytocin causes mothers to respond more positively to their newborn child.
‘Although extra oxytocin does not affect mothers’ caregiving behavior and stress levels, it does contribute to better contact between mother and child.’
Mothers with postpartum depression or a lighter form of it often feel sad, tired or anxious after the birth of their child. They may have sleep problems and often worry excessively about their baby or feel like they are not being a good mother.
Researchers at Radboud University and Radboudumc therefore investigated in an experiment whether the hormone oxytocin could help improve the interaction between these mothers and their children (between 3 and 9 months old).
Active substance: more positive contact
The experiment consisted of two moments of measurement. At one of the two moments, mothers with postnatal depression got a nasal spray containing oxytocin, during the other experiment a placebo.
The mothers themselves did not know during which moment they received oxytocin or the inactive nasal spray. The researchers then looked at the mothers’ behavior and perceptions during contact with their babies.
‘The results show that mothers expressed more positive feelings and affection after oxytocin dose,’ according to psychologist Madelon Hendricx-Riem, one of the researchers.
‘For example, they were warmer and more enthusiastic in their behavior, smiled more often and sought more physical contact with their baby. In addition, the mothers reported feeling more positive.’
The experiment format with two moments of measurement allowed the researchers to demonstrate a causal relationship between the extra oxytocin and the more positive contact between mother and child.
No difference in caring for baby
However, oxytocin had no effect on how adequately mothers cared for their babies. ‘We had actually expected a relationship between oxytocin and so-called sensitivity,’ says Hendricx-Riem.
‘In postnatal depression, there is often a somewhat disturbed interaction between mother and child, for example, because the mother does not quite assess why a baby is crying or because she reacts delayed to her crying baby.’
Nor did the mothers start to feel better thanks to oxytocin.
‘We measured cortisol levels and heart rate of the mothers and the oxytocin had no effect on them in this experiment,’ Hendricx-Riem said.
‘That may be because we now measured during moments of play between mother and child. In follow-up research we want to look at crying moments, because this is when mothers experience a lot of stress. Perhaps at those moments oxytocin does cause a lower heart rate and less cortisol.’
Not a cure, but a lead for intervention
Still, oxytocin has a positive role anyway in the contact between mothers with postpartum depression and their child, the researcher believes.
‘The mothers respond more positively to their child thanks to oxytocin and are also able to enjoy those moments of contact a little more. We don’t see oxytocin directly as a cure for postpartum depression, but there are starting points for interventions.
‘For example, you can also produce oxytocin through more physical contact with your baby. Perhaps mothers with postnatal depressive symptoms would benefit from doing baby massage or having more skin-to-skin contact with their baby.’
Funding: The research was funded by an NWO Open Competition XS grant (Madelon Hendricx-Riem) and Radboud Fonds (Madelon Hendricx-Riem en Peter Mulders). Research team: Madelon Hendricx-Riem, Lisa Loheide-Niessman, Roseriet Beijers, Indira Tendolkar, Peter Mulders
About this PPD and oxytocin research news
Author: Madelon Hendricx-Riem
Source: Radboud University
Contact: Madelon Hendricx-Riem – Radboud University
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Boosting oxytocin in postpartum depression: Intranasal oxytocin enhances maternal positive affect and regard for the infant” by Madelon Hendricx-Riem et al. Psychoneuroendocrinology
Abstract
Boosting oxytocin in postpartum depression: Intranasal oxytocin enhances maternal positive affect and regard for the infant
Although oxytocin has been recognized for its affiliative and anxiolytic properties, dysregulation of this system may contribute to the link between depressed mood and insensitive maternal care in mothers with postpartum depression (PPD).
This double-blind, randomized, within-subject control study investigated the effects of intranasal oxytocin on caregiving behaviors, mood and physiology in mothers with (subclinical) PPD.
The study included 45 mothers with 3- to 9-month-old infants who exhibited clinically relevant scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, with 35 mothers even fulfilling the criteria of a major depressive episode assessed with the SCID-5.
We assessed oxytocin’s effects on maternal sensitivity, positive regard toward the infant, self-reported positive and negative mood, and physiological responses, including salivary cortisol, heart rate, and heart rate variability during mother-infant interactions.
We found that oxytocin significantly increased maternal positive regard for the child and self-reported positive affect. No effects on maternal sensitivity, negative mood, or physiological responses were found.
Our findings suggest that oxytocin may enhance positive maternal emotions in PPD.
Future research should explore oxytocin’s therapeutic potential in larger, more diverse populations, considering individual differences such as PPD severity or childhood trauma.
