Drugs crush a woman’s maternal instinct according to brain scans. Considering America’s opioid epidemic, this is huge.
Mothers who use drugs have a weak emotional response to their babies’ smiling faces.
Baby smiles, mother’s brain dumps dopamine which is the reward and satisfaction chemical, and the love match begins.
This reward is the basis for and promotes the mother-infant attachment motivating mother to care for her infant even when she’s exhausted. When this system is shut down, the risk for abuse and neglect increases.
Unintentionally, this risk may start in mothers who’ve had Cesarean deliveries because they’re typically overprescribed the number of opioid painkillers they need. More than 20 pills can set mother up for drug abuse and addiction.
Be aware of this danger and provide support for the new mother in your life.
Claudia
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