...also release hormones. Consequently, hormones are also often called biological carriers. The response to a hormone may not always be prompt, but every hormone does affect the human body in either or short or long terms if released. Two hormones that are being addressed in this essay are: Oxytocin and Melatonin, which both change the human behavior. In the hypothalamus the hormone oxytocin is produced. It is released directly into the bloodstream via the pituitary gland, or to others parts of the brain and spinal cord. The pituitary glands main function is to stimulate growth. Oxytocin is another important hormone released from the pituitary gland. Oxytocin is often termed the “love/trust hormone.” It is known to raise feelings of happiness. (Coon & Mitterer) It was first recognized in the 1990s, researchers realized that it was released during breastfeeding which caused certain emotional feelings in women. It was established that Oxytocin was consistent to sociable connection or love. Oxytocin was also held subject for stress minimization because the level of Oxytocin was seen to go increase when a person would hug or kiss their loved one whiling feeling calm. (Coon & Mitterer) Oxytocin can also be used clinically to stimulate contractions for the uterus during labor, used to restrict bleeding directly after delivery, and to encourage the flow of...
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...the Pituitary Glands control the functions of many other glands in the body, but the major secretions from these glands are the following: Growth Hormones (GH) Antidiuretic Hormones (ADH) Oxytocin 1. The Growth Hormones (GH), stimulates the growth of bones and other tissue and controls the growth of all organisms in the body. This hormone is very important in maintaining an adequate balance between size and function. An example of this would be if a person has an exaggerated growth and his heart dose not maintain the proper size, the balance of blood flow thru the Circulatory System is not balanced and that person will always be tired. Also the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the different organs will not be adequate for proper body function. 2. Antidiuretic Hormones (ADH) or Vasopressin, is the hormone that simulates the increase of water reabsorption rate of the Kidney Tubels. The secretion of ADH stimulates the decrease of Urine production which in turn helps maintain a balanced blood volume and blood pressure. When too much of ADH is released it causes Vasoconstriction of blood vessels that has the effect of an increase of the blood pressure. 3. Oxytocin is the hormone that stimulates the cells of the Uterus and Mammary Glands. The secretion of the Oxytocin hormone as per www.answers.com, plays an important role in the birth and in feeding the infant. The two major actions are to promote contractions of the uterus, and the second action is the...
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...It is an often debated topic when discussing the comparison of stress levels of women compared to the stress levels of men. There are different causes of stress as well as different methods of relieving stress. On average, women feel as though they have more stress than men and handle stress better than men. Many people experience different forms of stress. Be it personal, emotional, physical or work-related. How to handle these kinds of stress is essential to having a balanced life. We all get emotional occasionally or lose our temper once in a while. But if you are out of balance in either one of these areas, it is very important to get back in balance if you want your day or life to go right. If your feelings get hurt because someone looks at you the wrong way or because friends, family and even co-workers forget your birthday, some spend more time with God praying and asking for the hurt to be lifted off of you. You will be built up in your spirit and better able to overlook the offenses of others and forgive them. Forgiving is an excellent stress reliever. Releasing all of that tension and calming your spirit. Quite of few people relieve their stress by praying. Giving your issues, concerns and worries to God is the best thing you can do for yourself. Another form of stress relieving is listening to music. Music, they say, can soothe the savage beast and we all have a savage beast in us some times. It can be jazz, instrumental, classical or gospel just to name...
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...PHYSIOLOGY OF LACTATION Before lactation ← The female breast is primed by estrogen, progesterone, growth hormone, insulin, thyroid hormone and glucocorticoids. ← These hormones aid in the growth of the ductal system and lobules, and in the development of secretory characteristics of the alveoli. ← Ironically, high levels of estrogen and progesterone also inhibit lactation at receptor sites in the breast tissue. ← The precipitous drop in the levels of these hormones after delivery, in the presence of an elevated prolactin level, facilitates lactation. Lactation: ← Means – the secretion of milk by the breast (Sweet 1992) The Physiology of Lactation can be divided into 2 aspects: 1. Lactogenesis – the initiation of lactation 2. The lactation Reflexes Physiology of Lactation: 1. Lactogenesis / Milk Production • Following placental separation & expulsion, oestrogen & progesterone levels decreased to the point where prolactin can be released & activated • Prolactin – secreted by galactophore (milk cell) of the anterior pituitory gland stimulates milk manufacture – increased • Prolactin now caused the acini cells in the alveoli to produce milk rather than only colostrums • It functioned to act & select nutrients, water & antibodies from the blood supply around the breast to form milk & will pass through the acini cells droplets by droplets & is collected in the alveoli ...
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...Kolevzon, A., Ludwig, N., Lydon, J.E., 2010. Effects of Oxytocin on Recollections of Maternal Care and Closeness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107, 21371- 21375. This experiment tests to determine whether oxytocin provides significant evidence of males’ emotions being affected towards their childhood memories in terms of their mother’s social closeness and maternal care. For this double-blind experiment, healthy males were first self-assessed by the Experience in Close Relationships scale (ECR) which determined whether the experimental candidates were inherently anxiously attached or non-anxiously attached to their mother. Next, the participants were distributed either...
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...Attachment / Pair Bonding Study Guide Behavior: Pair Bonding In some species, male and female partners form strong pair bonds which is presumably advantageous for division of labor in raising offspring. In ethology, “monogamy” is defined as: pair preference, co-nesting, and co-parenting. Only 3-5% of mammalian species are monogamous by this definition. (Many birds also pair bond, and mechanisms seem to be conserved, but we’ll just discuss mammals). Assay: Partner Preference Test Test subject is free to move between a chamber where previous partner is tethered, and a chamber where another potential mate (a stranger) is tethered. Partner preference = % of time spent in previous mate’s chamber. 50/50 means no partner preference. <50% would be stranger preference; 100% would mean absolute partner preference. previous test stranger mate subject potential mate Correlate Behavior (pair preference) to a Neural Mechanism: Oxytosin/Vasopressin Prairie voles = strictly monogamous rodent species, mates for life. * Partner preference is induced by a single mating, for both males and females. * Mating causes release of hormone oxytosin (females) or vasopressin (males) * Blocking oxytosin (f) or vasopressin (m) receptors during mating prevents pair preference. * Artificial dose of oxytosin (f) or vasopressin (m) in presence of scent of a stranger potential mate, is sufficient to induce partner preference for that individual without ever having mated....
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...This essay explains, reflects and analyses a critical incident which occurred on a postnatal ward during my first clinical placement as a student midwife. The incident relates to breastfeeding practices on the ward and is classed as critical because it triggered an instinctual response in me which made me feel it was not right or helpful. My response and feelings at the time were not grounded in theoretical knowledge but rather an instinctual feeling. As a result of this instinctual feeling, the incident was explored. This exploration opened up a flood gate of information regarding what could be learned from this incident and ways to improve practice. What was learnt from this incident will be discussed with the use of relevant literature. Discussion of the following topics will facilitate reflection and evaluation of the critical incident, maternal (breastfeeding) instinct, the use of skin-to-skin contact, using baby slings, co-sleeping, baby-led attachment and use of the hands-off technique (HOT), ways to empower mothers, positive reinforcement, the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and ethical, legal and competency aspects of this critical incident. The incident unfolded as follows. Ellen was a twenty-seven year old primipara who had been on the postnatal ward for five days. It was handed over that she was having difficulty breastfeeding due to large breasts and flat nipples and as a result the baby (Harry) wouldn’t attach and was very unsettled. My first contact with...
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...And Then There Was Three Jason M Copeland ITT Tech “Love doesn’t erase the past. It makes the future different”- Gary Chapman Very few moments can define a man’s life and the path he takes. December 18, 2012 was one of those defining moments in my life. It was no longer just about me and my needs, yes I worried about my wife and family, but they could take care of themselves. The day my son was born had to be one of the most exciting and scariest days of my life. I didn’t know what to expect, how I was supposed to care for this little human being. A split second changed my life forever. Until that moment happened I had no idea what my life was going to be like having someone that depended on me for their every need. When my wife told me she was pregnant, I was excited, but it just seemed surreal. I went to the doctor appointments, I was there for the ultrasounds. I was ecstatic the first time I felt him kick. My wife had complications so I was at the hospital every time the doctor sent her for observations. In the months leading up to my son’s birth I was there every step of the way, but I was just an observer. My wife was doing it all, nothing for me really changed. The day started out like any other induction day for millions of other parents. We arrived at the hospital bright and early, my wife filled out some paperwork, the nurses hooked up her iv, started the Pitocin drip, and her labor began. The rest of the morning, afternoon and early afternoon was a lot...
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...Oxytocin vs. Cortisol: Stress 2nd Period 16 September 2014 Oxytocin vs. Cortisol: Stress Stress is an inevitable factor of a human’s everyday life as it can positively influence one to be motivated and accomplish activities or it can be an off-putting setback that leaves a person to be dejected, which takes a harmful toll on the body. Either way, stress on oneself is an essential state of mentality that allows an individual to properly function—whether or not it benefits one to achieve all the set goals or pressure one to pull out the remaining hair left on one’s head. Stress can heavily affect an individual’s actions and emotions as it may cause anxiety. In fact, a hormone known as cortisol plays a heavy role into why a person may be feeling stressed out. It has been known that heightened levels of cortisol amplify the “risk for depression, mental illness, and lower life expectancy” (Bergland). Cortisol is a typically known as a hormone that induces stress that also assists one during an individual’s fight-or-flight situation to counteract any seeming threat that your brain processes. After the threat passes, the “hormone levels need to return to normal” so it goes through homeostasis (Mayo Clinic Staff). The natural reaction is that the adrenaline and cortisol activities will plunge in substitution for the body’s blood pressure and heart rate to come back regularly with the help of another hormone called oxytocin. This hormone help the body regulate homeostasis...
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...hormone in our body. Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter hormone released by the posterior pituitary gland. With only five percent of mammalian species having long lasting relationships and raising their young, I’d say this chemical is desperately needed. Many behaviors such as parental behaviors are associated with three peptides such as, oxytocin, vasopressin, and prolactin. The oxytocin is created by the hypothalamus that is located below the thalamus. The pituitary gland releases it into the circulatory system. The pituitary gland can do so because it can produce many different hormones that can control functions of other glands in the body. It is located just below the hypothalamus and is a part of the endocrine system. The circulatory system is responsible for moving water, oxygen, and many other items through the enter body. The circulatory system involves the heart, blood, and blood vessels to do so. A simple purpose that oxytocin helps with is breast feeding. Nursing creates spinal nerve stimulation that causes the hypothalamus to make oxytocin. The pituitary glands then secrete the oxytocin as well...
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...healthcare environments and patient situations. Guideline for the Use of Oxytocin December 2012 INTRODUCTION The benefits of labor induction and augmentation must be weighed against the potential maternal and fetal risks associated with this procedure (1). The induction or augmentation of labor may increase the likelihood of neonatal complications or result in unnecessary cesarean section. These risks may be necessary to assume in complicated pregnancies, in which prolongation of gestation presents further risk to the mother or fetus. Prior to initiating oxytocin, the patient should be counseled about the indications for the use of oxytocin, the methods of administration to be employed, and the risks of failure, cesarean delivery, or fetal compromise. A physician capable of performing cesarean section should be readily available during the induction or augmentation of labor (2). UNIT STRUCTURE Each hospital’s department of obstetrics should develop a standardized, single, universal written protocol for the use of oxytocin for labor induction or augmentation. Standardization of an oxytocin infusion protocol is recommended to reduce medication dosing error and improve patient assessment. Elements of a protocol should include (2): Indications for the use of oxytocin for labor induction and augmentation. Methods for preparation and administration of oxytocin. Qualifications of staff authorized to administer oxytocin and monitor patients. The level of the initial dose and subsequent...
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...result from a floppy, uncontracted uterus. Factors that may prevent the muscles of the uterus from contracting include the following: * prolonged labor; * the use of oxytocin (Pitocin) during labor; * general anesthesia; * twin or multiple births; * increased amounts of amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios); * delivery of a large baby; * history of more than five pregnancies; * abnormal labor (dystocia); and * infection (chorioamnionitis). In addition, fragments of placenta remaining in the uterus after delivery or benign growths within the walls of the uterus (known as fibroids) can also prevent the uterus from contracting normally. Active Management Many practitioners actively manage the third stage of labor, gently pulling the umbilical cord and administering oxytocin to help the uterus contract and promote delivery of the placenta. The uterus can also be massaged to help it contract firmly. Many studies show this technique reduces postpartum hemorrhage and the need for blood transfusions. For this reason, use of oxytocin after delivery, sometimes right after the baby is delivered and sometimes after the placenta has been delivered, is now commonplace. Oxytocin is given intravenously or injected into a muscle. If heavy bleeding from atony occurs despite the use of oxytocin after delivery, then other drugs such as...
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...U.N. Commission on Life Saving Commodities for Women and Children: Country Case Studies May 2012 This is a working document. It has been prepared to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and to stimulate discussion. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children or the United Nations. The text has not been edited to official publication standards, and the Commission accepts no responsibility for errors. The designations in this publication do not imply an opinion on legal status of any country or territory, or of its authorities, or the delimitation of frontiers. Contributors and Acknowledgements Sarah Blake,1 Aubrey Cody,1 Anjali Kaur,1 Nejla Liias, 1 Christopher Lindahl,2 Emily Bell,1 Julie Kragh,1 Jessica Mack,1 and Kristin Cox Mehling1 served as researchers and authors of this working paper. The authors would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to the development and conceptualization of these case studies: Oliver Sabot Hans Hogerzeil Patricia Mechael Catherine Taylor Kanika Bahl Julia White Kabir Ahmed Mark Young Renee van de Weerdt Deborah Armbruster Jennifer Lockwood-Bergeson Michael Mbizvo Clinton Health Access Initiative Groningen University mHealth Alliance PATH Results for Development Institute UN Secretariat UNFPA UNICEF UNICEF USAID USAID WHO ...
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...Hormones control most of our bodily functions, and subsequently influence neural structures. It is the involvement of both of these that affiliative behaviors (social bonds) form. An affiliative behavior is any behavior that is enacted with the intent to build, upkeep or improve close individual relationships. However, when thinking about an affailiatve behavior, contrasted with an addictive disorder one would expect that the hormonal responses and neural structures would be completely different. The research shows that they are not. Hormones heavily influence both affiliative behaviors and addictive disorders and researchers are able to understand the neurobiological reasoning for each of these behaviors by conducting functional MRI testing...
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...INTRODUCTION All over the world, hugging is recognized as a common form of greeting. Depending on culture, context and relationship, a hug can indicate familiarity, love, affection or friendship. One person may also hug another as an indicator of support, comfort, and consolation. In some cultures and for some people, especially between strangers, a hug may not be the norm and can be considered as invasion of private space. ------------------------------------------------- There has been extensive research carried out and literature published on the psychological benefits of being hugged. While most people have an innate physical and emotional need to be touched and hugged, especially by their loved ones, there is very little understanding of its health consequences. In this article I’ll share findings gained through scientific research on hugging another person. ------------------------------------------------- Hugging is an extremely positive form of communication. It expresses the values of love, approval, gratitude and forgiveness. Hugging is a great form of emotional satisfaction, but it also has some surprising health benefits. In this article we will share with you the health benefits of hugging – the ones you probably haven´t thought about. ------------------------------------------------- Sometimes, the most beneficial things in life are the simplest. One of them is hugging. At some time we all have experienced the feeling of comfort and security of a warm...
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