Breastfeeding is often painted in soft pastels and gentle metaphors — a sacred bond, a natural act, a gift. And all of that can be true. It’s beautiful, primal, nourishing, and deeply connective.
But it’s not the whole picture.
What’s often left out of this cultural framing is the sheer cost of breastfeeding on the mother’s body, mind, and nervous system. For many of us, breastfeeding is not only a nurturing act — it’s also physically draining, emotionally destabilizing, and psychologically disorienting. It’s hunger without appetite, love wrapped in overstimulation, and exhaustion veiled in a hormone fog.
We don’t hear much about these parts — the less photogenic realities. When mothers struggle with breastfeeding, their difficulties are too often dismissed as moodiness, lack of gratitude, or failure. And when they succeed in continuing to breastfeed despite those struggles, the depth of that sacrifice is rarely acknowledged.
That’s why this article exists.
A Note From Me — Why I’m Writing This
I’m not writing this as a medical professional. I’m writing as a mother of two who has breastfed exclusively, into toddlerhood, and through pregnancy.
Over the past 3.5 years, I’ve lived through many shades of this experience: moments of deep connection and awe, and moments of great physical pain, sudden rage, intense overstimulation, brain fog and a prevailing hunger without appetite. I’ve felt unseen, dismissed, and emotionally alone — even while physically surrounded.
And still, I breastfeed. I choose it — consciously, wholeheartedly — for many reasons I’ll share in a follow-up post. But this one is for the other side of the truth. The one we often keep to ourselves.
This is not an anti-breastfeeding post. It’s a pro-mother one. It’s an invitation to widen the narrative, deepen the compassion, and root our understanding in both biology and lived experience.
In the sections that follow, I’ll walk you through the hormonal, neurological, and psychological shifts that take place during breastfeeding — including how it can affect appetite, mood, executive functioning, libido, and pain sensitivity. I’ll also talk about how these changes impact neurodivergent mothers, including those with ADHD, and how partners and loved ones can offer real, tangible support.
Because once we understand what’s happening in a mother’s brain and body, we can finally stop asking her to “just push through” — and start asking how we can honor and support her through it.
The Neurobiology of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding doesn’t just nourish a baby. It rewires the mother.
The act of lactation involves a complex hormonal orchestra that touches nearly every system in the body — from mood and appetite to libido, attention, and sleep. These shifts are not minor fluctuations. They can feel like a total takeover of the nervous system. And yet, many mothers go through them with no language for what’s happening — and no acknowledgment from those around them.
Let’s start by looking at the key hormonal players involved in breastfeeding, and what they actually do inside the mother’s body and brain.
Prolactin: The Milk-Maker That Flattens Emotion
Prolactin is the primary hormone responsible for milk production. Every time a baby nurses (or a pump stimulates the breast), prolactin surges (Krol & Grossmann, 2018).
Its benefits are well-known: it calms the nervous system, promotes bonding, and helps maintain milk supply. But less talked about is its emotional flattening effect. High prolactin levels are associated with blunted dopamine activity — the very neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, focus, pleasure, and drive (Fleming, Ruble, Krieger, & Wong, 1997; Kim, Strathearn, & Swain, 2016).
This can feel like:
- Emotional numbness
- Disinterest in activities you usually enjoy
- Difficulty starting tasks or getting motivated
- A general sense of “blah”
It’s not depression. It’s hormonal modulation of mood — and it’s real.
Oxytocin: The Love Hormone… and the Cry Trigger
Oxytocin is released during breastfeeding to help milk let down, but it also enhances maternal bonding and emotional sensitivity (Galbally, Watson, & Lewis, 2011).
Many mothers describe a feeling of warmth, closeness, or tenderness during nursing — thanks to oxytocin. But it can also cause:
- Sudden tears without sadness
- Heightened social sensitivity (feeling easily hurt, dismissed, or invisible)
- Feelings of longing or nostalgia
- A need for physical closeness… or the exact opposite (when overstimulation hits)
Oxytocin connects us, but it also opens us up. That openness can be beautiful — and also incredibly raw.
Estrogen and Progesterone: The Silenced Pair
During lactation, estrogen and progesterone — which dominate the menstrual cycle — remain suppressed (Sacher, Okon-Singer, & Villringer, 2013).
This is part of the body’s natural fertility suppression during exclusive breastfeeding, but it has psychological side effects:
- Low libido
- Mood instability, particularly if you were previously sensitive to hormonal shifts (e.g. PMS or postpartum)
- A subtle sense of disconnection from your sexuality or self-image
Low estrogen can also contribute to poor sleep quality, anxiety, and loss of appetite, even when you’re clearly hungry (Galbally et al., 2011), more on that later.
Dopamine: Derailed by the Let-Down Reflex
The act of milk let-down — when oxytocin causes the milk to flow — is associated with a drop in dopamine. This is especially noticeable at night or during cluster feeding sessions, when dopamine dips become prolonged (Krol & Grossmann, 2018).
Low dopamine can result in:
- Poor concentration
- Trouble with task initiation and follow-through
- Brain fog
- ADHD symptom worsening, especially in neurodivergent mothers (Anderson, Dumitriu, & Rapoport, 2021)
This isn’t a personality flaw. It’s neurochemical reality.
What This Looks Like in Daily Life
Imagine trying to care for a child when your brain is:
- Blunted in motivation
- Raw with emotion
- Starved for sleep
- Suppressed in libido and appetite
- Struggling to focus
And imagine being expected to enjoy it — all of it.
The cognitive dissonance is sharp. Many mothers wonder why they feel so off, so irritable, so unlike themselves… even when they deeply love their babies. Knowing the neurobiological roots of these feelings can reduce shame and increase self-compassion.
You’re not broken. You’re hormonally rewired — and doing your best.
When Breastfeeding Hurts
Pain, hypersensitivity, and the extra challenge of nursing while pregnant
Breastfeeding is often framed as cozy and pain-free once latch is “correct.” Yet surveys show that up to 80% of mothers experience nipple or breast pain at some point in the first year (Kent et al., 2015). For many, the discomfort fades after the early weeks—but for others, especially those with flat nipples or nursing a toddler while pregnant, pain can intensify just when society expects them to be “experts” by now.
Why Does It Hurt?
There are many reasons breastfeeding may cause discomfort, and most of them are physiological, not personal failures. For example:
- Shallow latch or flat/inverted nipples often lead to sharp, pinching pain during feeding. The baby may only grasp the nipple tip rather than taking in enough of the areola, compressing nerve-rich tissue and causing micro-abrasions. You might notice a “lipstick” shape on the nipple after a feed — a classic sign of an ineffective latch (Amir, 2014).
- Oversupply or engorgement causes the breasts to become overfilled and firm, especially in the early months. This fullness can stretch the skin and make the areola too taut for a deep latch, increasing pain and causing throbbing or referred pain into the armpits (Morton et al., 2018).
- Pregnancy-related sensitivity often sets in when you continue nursing while pregnant. Rising estrogen and progesterone levels can thin the nipple tissue and make nerve endings more reactive, leading to a burning or electric-shock sensation even before let-down (Mitchell & Johnson, 2020).
- Tandem nursing or feeding a toddler can be physically intense. An older child may exert stronger jaw pressure, have new teeth, or nurse more playfully — all of which can lead to bruising, scraping, and fatigue for the already sensitive breast tissue (Wambach & Spencer, 2021).
Pain is your body’s way of signaling the need for adjustment, not abandonment of breastfeeding. Seeking support early can prevent more serious complications like cracked skin, infections, or emotional burnout.
Tactical Relief
- Reset the latch
Begin by aligning your baby’s nose with your nipple, waiting for a wide, open gape, and then bringing them in close. If the areola is too swollen (common during oversupply), use reverse-pressure softening for about 60 seconds to help the nipple protrude and ease the latch (Morton et al., 2018). - Temporary relief tools
A nipple shield can be used briefly to reduce friction and pain while you work on latch or sensitivity issues. Between feeds, silver cups, hydrogel pads, or medical-grade lanolin can soothe the tissue and promote healing (Amir, 2014). - When pregnancy makes nursing painful
Try offering the less-tender side first, or limiting session length. Many mothers use the “count to 10 and stop” method to introduce gentle boundaries, especially with toddlers. If the sensation is unbearable, ice packs or cold compresses before feeding can dull nerve sensitivity (Mitchell & Johnson, 2020). - Soothing oversupply
If the let-down is too forceful, try expressing a small amount of milk before latching. Feeding in a laid-back position (reclining with baby tummy-to-tummy) lets gravity reduce flow pressure. You can also use firm pressure positions, where the baby lies heavily against your torso — this can reduce sensory overload while calming your nervous system (Field, 2014). - Mind-body co-regulation
Pain and stress can create a feedback loop. Using box breathing (inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4) during let-down can help calm the nervous system and reduce the intensity of perceived pain. Simply naming the sensation — “this is temporary nerve pain” — can also reduce catastrophizing and emotional distress (Uvnäs-Moberg et al., 2020). - Strategic distraction
When pain persists despite latch correction or topical relief — as in cases of flat or sensitive nipples — distraction can be a powerful coping tool. Watching something engaging, listening to an audiobook or podcast, or better yet focusing on engaging work tasks on your phone can shift your attention away from the discomfort. This works by activating the brain’s executive function networks, which can reduce pain perception by overriding the salience of the sensation (Wiech et al., 2008). Especially for moderate, recurrent pain that isn’t fully avoidable, allowing your mind to anchor elsewhere can make the experience bearable.
Personally, this has been the number one strategy that has carried me through years of breastfeeding — engaging work tasks absorb my focus just enough to take the edge off. And interestingly, the kids don’t seem to mind it — they’ve even started handing me the phone before we begin, as if they understand it’s part of our rhythm.
The Emotional Undercurrent
Pain rarely travels alone. It often brings waves of guilt, resentment, or even sudden aversion — especially when you’re pregnant and hormonal. Thoughts like “I can’t stand this” are not uncommon, and they don’t make you a bad mother. In fact, they often reflect how unprepared and undersupported mothers are for the biological extremes of breastfeeding.
Some women also experience D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex) — a sharp dip in dopamine just before let-down, which can trigger intense feelings of dread, sadness, or agitation (Heise, 2012). These sensations pass quickly but can be deeply disturbing if not understood.
Compassion script: “My body is doing hard, hormone-heavy work. Pain and overwhelm are signals, not verdicts. I deserve troubleshooting and support.”
Appetite and Nourishment
Hungry but uninspired — the hormonal tug-of-war behind feeding yourself while feeding someone else.
Breastfeeding burns calories. A lot of them. Estimates range from 400 to 700 kcal per day depending on the baby’s age and feeding frequency (Butte et al., 2004). That’s the equivalent of running several kilometers — without ever leaving the couch.
And yet many breastfeeding mothers find themselves caught in a paradox: always hungry but rarely inspired to eat.
Why?
Estrogen Drops and Appetite Dysregulation
After birth, estrogen levels plummet, and they stay low throughout lactation (Sacher, Okon-Singer, & Villringer, 2013). Estrogen plays a critical role in regulating serotonin, mood, and — importantly — appetite cues (Asarian & Geary, 2013).
Low estrogen can manifest as:
- A lack of desire to plan meals, shop, or cook
- Cravings without satisfaction
- Feeling hungry but emotionally disconnected from food
- Aversion to certain textures, smells, or warm meals (especially postpartum)
So while your body is demanding nourishment, your brain may not be cooperating.
The Overwhelm Factor: Executive Dysfunction Meets Hunger
Prolactin’s dopamine suppression (Krol & Grossmann, 2018) also plays a role here. When dopamine is low, executive functioning takes a hit. You may feel:
- Too overwhelmed to prepare real meals
- Too scattered to track what you’ve eaten
- Reliant on snacks or skipped meals — even when they leave you undernourished
This is especially tough for neurodivergent mothers or those with ADHD, where appetite regulation and task initiation are already compromised (Anderson, Dumitriu, & Rapoport, 2021).
Now Add a Toddler to the Mix
If you’re breastfeeding a baby and raising a toddler, this hormonal fog gets even more complicated. Toddlers don’t just need dinner — they need multiple meals, snacks, water refills, spills wiped up, and fruit peeled all day long.
And when your brain is already struggling to feed yourself, this added demand can feel brutal.
You may know exactly what they should eat, yet feel physically and mentally blocked from preparing it. You may default to snacks or convenience foods for them, and then feel guilty — which only increases your mental load. Even with the best intentions, the tension between what they need and what you can manage is real, and it’s exhausting.
This isn’t laziness. It’s biology plus caregiving.
Why Snacks Can Save You — Gently
In this stage, snacks are not a failure. They’re a survival strategy. Especially if they:
- Require no cooking or cleanup
- Are eaten with one hand
- Come in small portions throughout the day
- Are nourishing and grounding
Here are some snack ideas that don’t require planning but offer real sustenance:
Sweet & Soothing
- Dates stuffed with almond butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon
- Stewed apples or pears with cloves and cardamom (can be made in batches)
- Chia pudding made with oat milk and berries
- Sliced banana with hemp seeds and a drizzle of maple syrup
- Homemade trail mix (pumpkin seeds, raisins, coconut flakes, walnuts)
Savory & Satisfying
- Boiled eggs with salt, pepper, and olive oil (if lacto-ovo vegetarian)
- Cold roasted sweet potatoes or beets with tahini
- Whole grain toast with miso paste and avocado
- Leftover cooked grains (like millet, buckwheat, or quinoa) drizzled with tamari and sesame oil
- Cucumber or bell pepper slices with hummus or white bean dip
Fermented & Gut-Supportive
- Sauerkraut or kimchi with crackers or rice cakes
- Kefir smoothies with banana and flaxseed (if consuming dairy)
- Sourdough with cultured butter or soft cheese (optional depending on diet)
Warm & Comforting
- Miso soup with tofu and wakame (can be made in minutes)
- Warm oats or semolina with ground nuts and mashed fruit
- Vegetable broth with ghee and herbs — a “sipping soup”
- Toasted seeds (sunflower, sesame, pumpkin) with sea salt
- Herbal tea blends with nourishing additions like oat straw, nettle, or raspberry leaf
These foods offer fats, protein, and slow carbohydrates — without relying on sugar spikes or convenience food. Looking for snacks tailored to specific needs? Download my free guide!
Printable Guide: Healthy and Easy Snacks for Mothers
This guide offers snack ideas tailored to what your body is really going through: iron depletion, hormonal shifts, executive dysfunction, sensory overwhelm, and the beautiful yet exhausting task of feeding another human (or two). These snacks are:
- Easy to prepare or batch
- Grounding, blood-sugar-stabilizing, and nourishing
- Designed with real-life breastfeeding challenges in mind
You’ll also find batch-prep options below, perfect for postpartum, pregnancy, or those toddler-chasing days when time vanishes.
No calorie counting. No pressure. Just support — for the mother who deserves to eat, too.
This free resource was created with care. If you found it helpful, you can support my work here. Thank you.
The Overstimulation No One Talks About
There’s a unique kind of sensory fatigue that many breastfeeding mothers experience — especially when feeding on demand or nursing multiple times a night. It’s not just exhaustion; it’s a feeling of being “touched out,” emotionally drained, and overstimulated by constant closeness and the sensory input of small bodies needing you all day (and night) long.
Hormones like oxytocin and prolactin, which support milk ejection and bonding, can also amplify emotional sensitivity and a need for quiet, safe space (Uvnäs-Moberg et al., 2020). While these effects help attune you to your baby, they can become overwhelming without regular moments to reset your nervous system.
This overstimulation often shows up as:
- Irritability or sudden emotional outbursts, especially by evening
- An aversion to physical touch, even from a partner
- A desperate craving for silence or solitude — yet rarely getting it
- Sensory overwhelm in crowded or noisy environments
- Feelings of guilt for needing space from the child you love so deeply
If you’ve ever said, “Please, just stop touching me for a minute” — you’re not alone. This is a valid biological and psychological need, not selfishness.
What Helps:
- Daily alone time — even 10 minutes in silence or nature can reset your system.
- Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones during overstimulating moments at home.
- Sensory resets: a cold splash of water on the face, walking barefoot on grass, sipping warm tea in silence.
- Naming the need to your partner or loved ones: “I need a moment to be just in my own skin again.”
- Adjusting your nursing position: If the overstimulation is coming from the sucking sensation itself, choose a position where your baby’s weight rests firmly on your chest or abdomen. The deep pressure of their body against yours can calm your nervous system, engaging your parasympathetic “rest and digest” response (Field, 2014).
We wouldn’t expect someone in physical rehab to skip rest between sessions. Yet breastfeeding mothers are often expected to offer constant emotional and physical access — without pause. Reclaiming small moments of stillness is an act of nervous system care.
Breastfeeding and ADHD: When Regulation Feels Out of Reach
For many neurodivergent mothers—especially those with ADHD—breastfeeding can add another layer of intensity to an already overstimulating reality.
Postpartum is a time of radical neurobiological change for everyone. But for those whose nervous systems already operate with heightened sensitivity, impulsivity, or challenges in executive function, the demands of breastfeeding can feel like an invisible avalanche.
Hormonal Shifts and Executive Dysfunction
During breastfeeding, prolactin and oxytocin levels rise—both of which play a role in milk production and bonding. But prolactin also has a sedating effect, which can lead to fatigue, brain fog, or a sense of emotional flatness (Kim et al., 2016).
At the same time, estrogen and dopamine levels remain lower than usual—particularly in exclusively breastfeeding mothers (Zhao et al., 2019). For people with ADHD, this can be especially disruptive, as dopamine plays a key role in motivation, reward sensitivity, and executive functioning. It’s no surprise that many ADHD mothers report:
- Increased forgetfulness
- Struggles with focus or follow-through
- Emotional dysregulation (irritability, weepiness, rage)
- A lack of motivation to cook, clean, or manage basic routines
- Sensory overwhelm—especially from noise or touch
As one mother described it: “I wanted to want to care. But the part of my brain that organizes action felt completely offline.”
These symptoms are not a moral failure. They’re the result of a genuine mismatch between internal resources and external demands—especially when societal expectations remain unchanged.
The Cycle of Shame
One of the cruelest aspects of this experience is how invisible it often is. From the outside, everything looks fine: the baby is fed, the house is standing, the mother smiles.
But inside, she may feel chaotic, numb, or enraged. And when others don’t see it—or worse, minimize it—shame creeps in. Especially for ADHD mothers who have spent a lifetime masking or overperforming to keep up.
It’s essential to name that executive dysfunction under hormonal stress is real, and not a sign that someone is “not cut out” for motherhood. In fact, the ADHD brain is often wired for deep intuition, creativity, and responsiveness—especially when supported.
What Helps
Some strategies that can help ADHD mothers manage the postpartum and breastfeeding period include:
Externalizing Support
- Written lists for routines or tasks (with checkboxes or visual cues)
- Use of timers or alarms for meals, meds, or breaks
- A shared Google Calendar or physical planner that someone else helps fill in
Reduce Decision Fatigue
- Keep meals simple and repetitive (e.g., same breakfast every day)
- Use pre-prepped snack bins or shelf-stable options for grab-and-go eating
- Delegate meal planning or batch cook on a predictable day
Regulate the Nervous System
- Noise-canceling headphones or earplugs
- Low-stimulation nursing environments (dim lights, quiet music, decluttered space)
- Weighted blankets or firm physical pressure, like a toddler lying across you while nursing, to ground sensory overload
Emotional Validation
- Regular check-ins with a therapist or ADHD-informed coach
- Honest conversations with a partner: “When I snap, it’s not about you—it’s overwhelm.”
- Self-compassion practices (recorded affirmations, journaling, brief meditations)
Breastfeeding doesn’t cancel out neurodivergence. If anything, it amplifies it. But that doesn’t mean ADHD mothers are less suited to nurture—they just need support that matches how their brain works. That’s not indulgent. It’s intelligent care.
How Partners, Families, and Friends Can Truly Support
Supporting a breastfeeding mother isn’t about heroics—it’s about tuning in. Often, what looks like “everything’s fine” on the outside can mask deep depletion within. Because breastfeeding isn’t just feeding a baby—it’s an act of continuous giving, physical and emotional, day and night.
When you care for the mother, you strengthen the entire system. Here’s what true support looks like—not performative, but embodied.
→ Offer regular, predictable alone time
Breastfeeding, especially around the clock, erodes boundaries. A mother may go hours—or days—without a moment to herself. Build a routine where she knows she’ll get 15–30 minutes of uninterrupted solitude each day. Not as a bonus, but as a necessity. This isn’t selfishness—it’s nervous system hygiene. It’s the only way her body can down-regulate from the constant state of alertness that caregiving demands.
→ Bring food before she asks
The mother may feel hunger but lack appetite. Or she may know she needs to eat, but the executive function required to plan or prepare a meal feels out of reach. When you bring her a nourishing snack unprompted—fruit, nuts, warm oatmeal, or a smoothie—you’re not just feeding her body. You’re telling her she is seen. That her needs matter too.
→ Quiet the background noise, clear the space
When a mother is overstimulated by nursing, even ordinary sensory input can become unbearable. Loud conversations, constant toddler chatter, visual clutter, fluorescent lighting—these compound stress. Calm the environment when you can: tidy a room, lower your voice, soften the lights. Creating external calm helps soothe the chaos inside her body.
→ Take over planning and decision-making
Mental fatigue often hits harder than physical fatigue. If you can, take one category off her plate: “I’ll plan dinners this week,” or “I’ll manage the calendar and appointments.” The mental load is invisible but crushing—and lifting it is one of the most powerful forms of support.
→ Encourage guilt-free rest
In a culture that rewards constant doing, rest can feel indulgent—or worse, shameful. Remind her that breastfeeding is labor. That naps are not laziness, but medicine. That laying down with the baby, or simply doing nothing, is part of the job—not a failure to do more.
→ Physically support her during feeds
If she’s open to it, help reduce the strain of holding the baby by gently supporting their weight or helping with positioning. Some mothers find that firm physical contact—like the baby’s weight on the chest—actually calms their nervous system. Explore together what makes her feel grounded, not burdened.
→ Speak affirmations aloud—even when she “seems fine”
So much of a mother’s work is invisible. She may not voice her exhaustion or grief, especially if she feels she “should” be coping better. Tell her:
“You’re doing an incredible job.”
“I see how much love and effort you pour into this.”
“You matter too.”
Words like these may be the only mirror she has.
→ When she’s overwhelmed or angry, meet her with curiosity—not correction
If she snaps or breaks down, don’t jump to fix or critique. Underneath is often a nervous system that’s fried—a human running on empty. Try:
“This feels like too much—can I help with something right now?”
Or simply:
“I’m here. You’re not alone.”
Compassion helps her feel safe again. And safety—not solutions—is what most mothers crave in those moments.
Supporting a breastfeeding mother isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about steady, thoughtful acts of care that affirm her humanity—not just her function as a mother. When she feels safe, supported, and truly seen, breastfeeding can become not just sustainable, but sacred.
I Still Believe in Breastfeeding
This article isn’t an argument against breastfeeding. It’s a call to see the whole picture—to honor the mother as much as we honor the milk.
Yes, breastfeeding is natural, healthy, eco-conscious, and beautiful. But none of that cancels out the exhaustion, the overstimulation, the hormonal rollercoasters, or the ways it can quietly unravel a mother’s sense of self when support is missing.
Too often, we talk about breastfeeding as if its benefits make the struggles irrelevant. But that binary hurts everyone. What mothers need isn’t more pressure to be grateful—it’s more permission to be human.
When understood and supported, breastfeeding can be profoundly bonding and nourishing for both mother and child. But this happens not because the mother is a martyr—but because she’s seen, held, and cared for too.
I’m not writing this as a neutral observer. I’m writing as a mother of two who breastfed exclusively and into toddlerhood—including through pregnancy. I’ve lived through hormonal crashes, painful nursing aversions, overstimulation so intense it felt like electricity under my skin, and the deep loneliness of feeling like no one understood. And I still chose to continue. Over three and a half years and counting.
Why?
Because there is beauty in it too. There is magic, ease, immunity, closeness, and peace. But these co-exist with the struggle. They don’t erase it.
That’s why this isn’t the full story. This is just the beginning. A follow-up post is coming soon, with the science-backed—and lived—reasons why many mothers, myself included, continue to breastfeed despite the hardship.
Final Words
Breastfeeding doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful. But it does need to be understood—in its full emotional, physical, and psychological reality.
When we stop romanticizing breastfeeding and start supporting it—truly supporting it—we give mothers something even better than ease. We give them dignity. Choice. Safety. Presence.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I hope this article has helped you feel validated, better equipped, or more connected—whether you’re a breastfeeding mother or someone who loves one.
References
- Altemus, M., Neeb, C. C., Davis, A., Occhiogrosso, M., Bleiberg, K. L., & Nguyen, T. (2012). Cortisol and ACTH responses to stress in postpartum women. Biological Psychiatry, 72(4), 294–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.02.031
- Dumas, L. (2020). Breastfeeding and ADHD: New Research Shows Links to Emotional Regulation. Journal of Attention Disorders, 24(5), 715–723. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054719837481
- Kim, P., Strathearn, L., & Swain, J. E. (2016). The Maternal Brain and Its Plasticity in Humans. Hormones and Behavior, 77, 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.08.001
- Laudenslager, M. L., Bodnar, A., Simons, L., & Carlson, N. (2021). Overstimulation and sensory processing challenges in postpartum women. Infant Mental Health Journal, 42(4), 543–556. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21927
- Lonstein, J. S., & Lévy, F. (2019). Neurobiology of parenting: Central control of mammalian parenting behavior. Hormones and Behavior, 111, 84–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.02.004
- Myers, A. J., & Stuebe, A. M. (2018). Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Lactation: Challenges and Opportunities. Current Psychiatry Reports, 20(6), 44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0915-0
- Zhao, L., Mao, Z., & Zhang, H. (2019). Estrogen and appetite regulation in postpartum women. Endocrine Reviews, 40(4), 752–779. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2019-00025
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