Women with lower levels of the hormone oxytocin in their blood during late stages of pregnancy are more likely to develop Postpartum depression, new research suggests. The study, published online in Neuropsychopharmacology, examined blood samples of 73 women volunteers. Fourteen of this group later developed Postpartum depression. This group tended to have lower levels of oxytocin. The study is one of the first to explore the relationship between oxytocin levels during pregnancy and the risk for postpartum depression. (The Washington Post, 5/9/11)
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