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Urinary excretion of catecholamines during the first months after delivery
1National Institute of Psychosocial Factors and Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
The urinary excretion of free catecholamines was assessed in 17 women 3 times after delivery; after 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months, respectively. Relatively high levels were found both for adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion, on the first and third occasions, with significantly lowered levels on the second one. Mothers who had had a negative experience of their delivery (according to interview) as well as mothers who felt tired during the mid-phase of the follow-up (according to diaries) had very small variations in catecholamine excretion and did not show increased levels 6 months after delivery. Whether the mother experienced her infant as crying or not had no significant association with catecholamine output.
The urinary excretion of free catecholamines was assessed in 17 women 3 times after delivery; after 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months, respectively. Relatively high levels were found both for adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion, on the first and third occasions, with significantly lowered levels on the second one. Mothers who had had a negative experience of their delivery (according to interview) as well as mothers who felt tired during the mid-phase of the follow-up (according to diaries) had very small variations in catecholamine excretion and did not show increased levels 6 months after delivery. Whether the mother experienced her infant as crying or not had no significant association with catecholamine output.