Parenting
PARENTS, HERE'S ONE THING DRS. SPOCK AND BRAZELTON CAN'T HELP YOU
WITH: YOUR HORMONES.
Sex hormones fluctuate dramatically in male and female animals in
association with childbirth, and often mark the onset of parenting
behaviors such as nest building, grooming, and nursing. But the hormonal
changes in humans-and their role in parenting-are not as neatly packaged,
nor as easily tested.
Two psychologists working separately are making hormonal headway.
Alison Fleming, Ph.D., and David Gubernick, Ph.D., find that hormones
interact with psychological factors to influence the way-or even
whether-parents care for their young.
In a recent study, Fleming, of the University of Toronto,
interviewed 29 first-time moms before and after birth to determine how
they felt toward their babies. She also measured their levels of
estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and the stress hormone
cortisol.
Though levels of all four hormones dropped significantly after
birth, none except cortisol correlated in any way with mother-infant
interactions. Women who had the highest cortisol and positive maternal
attitudes were more likely to smell, touch, snuggle, and play with their
baby while nursing than those who did not. Those with a negative maternal
attitude became less attentive under the influence of cortisol.
Cortisol levels rise during labor and decline over the postpartum
weeks. "The hormone may have the effect of intensifying the psychological
relationship with the baby," be it good or bad, says Fleming.
Cortisol may elevate mom's state of arousal, accentuating nurturing
behavior if she has primarily positive maternal feelings, increasing
avoidance if not. Or, high cortisol could, in certain personalities,
elevate well-being, intensifying a mother's motivation to respond
affectionately to baby. it may also be that after birth, hormones
influence a new mom's sensitivity to and perception of her infant's cues.
Last, cortisol may affect the ease with which moms acquire and retain
maternal experiences.
But moms aren't the only ones whose hormones are affected by a new
baby.
For a month before and a month following the birth of their babies,
Gubernick, of the University of Wisconsin, took blood samples from nine
fathers. In all, testosterone levels plummeted after baby was
born.
Because testosterone can fluctuate with stress, number of orgasms,
aggressive behavior, and sleep deprivation, Gubernick paid special
attention to such matters. Nothing correlated with the hormone
dip.
The decrease in testosterone may be a man's response to general
changes in his environment, reflecting, say, an altered daily routine
after baby is born. Or reduced testosterone could be a specific response
to having a new living being in the house.
Either way, the testosterone changes could have a huge payoff. They
may facilitate responsiveness to infants. Men report, for example,
feeling an "up-welling of wonderfulness" when holding a baby, says
Gubernick.
More research will tell how the 'mones of the parents help them
respond to the moans of their babes.
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