4 Magic Facts About Prolactin

Everyone knows about Oxytocin and the role it plays in birth and bonding, but in my opinion, we don’t give Prolactin enough air time!

Prolactin is an incredible hormone released during pregnancy and lactation. It’s responsible for milk production, and it also helps us to nurture our babies, which is why it’s often referred to as the “Mothering hormone”.

Read on for 5 magic facts about Prolactin

1.       Prolactin’s milk-producing effect is blocked during pregnancy by high levels of progesterone, produced by the baby’s placenta. When the placenta is born, progesterone levels drop, and prolactin begins to stimulate milk production.

That’s why even if you have a very premature baby, born via caesarean, your body still knows it’s time to make milk because the placenta is no longer there. Amazing!

2.       Prolactin is known as the “mothering hormone” but it also affects dads too! Just before the birth of their baby, prolactin levels rises in dads-to-be. Studies show that new dads with higher prolactin levels are more responsive to their baby’s cries.

3. Prolactin is a stress-reducing hormone. Studies have shown that after breast/chestfeeding, when prolactin peaks, nursing parents are calmer, in a better mood and have an increased resistance to stress. Prolactin is also known as one of the ecstatic birth hormones – our bodies are SO clever!

4.       Humans are “carry mammals”, and carrying your baby increases prolactin production – in both parents. This increase in prolactin makes parents more tolerant of the mundanities of life with a baby. Research has found that babies carried in a soft sling are more secure by 13 months of age, which may be to do with the effects of prolactin on our mood.

I love learning about the hormones of birth because if you understand the hormones… there’s not much else to it! Birth is a totally hormonally driven process, so it’s a great idea to learn all about the hormones during your pregnancy.