Love is considered a sacred thing, by spiritual and nonspiritual people alike. Love is considered special, untouchable, divine.
However, when you actually study the science of love, you find that love is another system in a well-oiled machine. Love isn't sacred, divine, spiritual, or special. Love is just another series of chemical interactions we have evolved as human animals. This includes romantic partner love AND parent child love. :D
Come on baby... mommy needs another dose of oxytocin...
Photo from here.
The most important chemical for human bonding is oxytocin. It activates the reward centers of the brain and makes you feel relaxed and happy, it reduces stress and increases trust. It makes you feel awesome. It's the chemical that is released during orgasm that makes you bond with your partner. It's also released in a high concentration during child birth, when you lactate, and when you gaze into your baby's eyes.
Babies are basically bundles of manipulative chemicals. It's awesome. Oxytocin is released from child to parent through touch. That is why it is so important that all caretakers of the baby get lots of baby cuddling in. Babies need to be loved and hugged and cuddles and snuggled. Skin to skin contact is so important to bonding, for baby and caretaker. Anyone who should be bonded to the baby should have lots of skin to skin cuddling with the baby. This literally creates a physiological bond!
Babies release more than oxytocin. There are other very handy pheromones and hormones being released to keep caretakers interested in caring for the baby.
Vasopressin is an interesting hormone that mostly effects men. A pregnant mate causes men to release this hormone and it causes men to feel more loyal, closer, and more protective of their mate. It also helps men feel an attachment to the woman's offspring. How cool! Some people call it the anti-testosterone because it decreases aggression.
Have you ever loved someone so much that when you saw them you were completely swept away with feelings of bliss? Those are probably opioids being released! This is an awesome pleasure hormone that your body releases to reward you for building close family relationships. They are specifically related to mating and parent child relationships. Cuddling, nurturing, and feeding the baby naturally create opioids in parents and children. One thing I thought was REALLY interesting is that you can become tolerant to opioids BUT that our old friend oxytocin stops you from becoming tolerant.
SO, in summary, your baby is a sack of chemicals, and so are you. A lot of beautiful, wonderful chemicals are coming off that baby and if you are touching the baby, you get dose with the hormones. The more you love your baby, the more love you will feel for your baby, and the more you will love your baby. Love, cuddle, hug, snuggle, and feed your baby as much as you can!
Annotated Bibliography
The Chemistry of Attachment. Linda D Palmer. http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artchemistry.php 2002
This is an excellent article breaking down the specific chemicals involved in bonding and explaining how they work.
The new science of mother-baby bonding. Patty Onderko. http://www.parenting.com/article/the-new-science-of-mother-baby-bonding.
Mother-child bonding gives long term benefits to baby. Attachment parenting prevents diseases, increases immunity, boosts IQ. Nipple stimulation from breastfeeding releases oxytocin. Oxytocin activates the reward center of your brain. Babies also release pheromones that cause mothers to bond with baby, in fact, mothers can distinguish their baby's smell from all other babies. Your own baby's smile also triggers brain reward center.
Breastfeeding increases the production of oxytocin, the bonding chemical. Breastfeeding mothers have stronger brain responses when they hear their baby cry than mothers who feed formula.
Why do people people want to eat babies? Eoin O'Carroll. http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/0923/Why-do-people-want-to-eat-babies-Scientists-explain. 23 Sept 13
Babies release a pheromone that makes people hungry. The theory is that hungry moms take better care of themselves and are able to better provide for the baby.
Men and oxytocin, creating an attachment to nurture your newborn baby. What to Expect. 30 May 13. http://www.whattoexpect.com/blogs/daddydazemycoworkersweardiapers/men-and-oxytocin-creating-an-attachment-to-nurture-your-newborn-baby
Oxytocin also works on men.
Mother-baby bond: the biology of love. The Visual MD. ttp://www.thevisualmd.com/health_centers/child_health/mother-baby_bond_the_biology_of_love/mother_baby_bond_the_biology_of_love
Reinforces the significance of bonding with baby.
Mmmm so good. My baby is a drug. It's painful not to be with her :)
ReplyDeleteShe is a precious little sack of bonding hormones and I miss her! I will see her soon! I think 6 weeksish? We are still waiting on weather to decide exactly when to leave. :)
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