DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF OXYTOCIN, PROLACTIN BUT NOT CORTISOL RELEASE DURING BREAST-FEEDING IN WOMEN DELIVERED BY CESAREAN-SECTION OR BY THE VAGINAL ROUTE

The aim of this study was to find out whether the hormonal patterns of oxytocin, prolactin and cortisol differed between women delivered by emergency section or by the vaginal route and if these patterns show a ny relation to the duration of breastfeeding. Seventeen mothers with e mergency section (C.S.) and 20 mothers with normal vaginal delivery (V .D.) were blood sampled in connection with breastfeeding on day 2 post partum for oxytocin, prolactin and cortisol. The number of oxytocin p ulses as calculated with the PULSAR program occurring during the first 10 min of the breastfeeding session varied between 0 and 5. The V.D. mothers had significantly more pulses than the C.S. ones. Furthermore the C.S. women lacked a significant rise in prolactin levels at 20-30 min after the onset of breastfeeding. Logistic regression analysis rev ealed mode of delivery and infant's age at first breastfeed to be the most important, independent variables showing a relation to the releas e pattern of oxytocin on day 2. Correlations between,oxytocin pulsatil ity on day 2 and the duration of the exclusive breastfeeding period in the V.D. group suggest that development of an early pulsatile oxytoci n pattern is of importance for breastfeeding.