If we know a lot about hormonal changes in the future and the young mother before and after delivery, it must be admitted that very few studies have looked at the hormonal changes of young dads.
Also, a new study conducted by Notre Dame University, in the United States, deserves attention.
It consisted of the analysis of cortisol levels (stress hormone but also of vigilance) and testosterone ("masculinizing" hormone) in 298 young fathers during the first two days of their newborn's life.
"What we have seen in the days following birth is that fathers 'hormone levels - in terms of the amount and speed with which these rates change - are tied to fathers' parental investment several months later. late, "said Lee Gettler, professor of anthropology and co-author of the study, published in the journal" Hormones and Behavior ".
Research has shown that young fathers with higher levels of cortisol at first skin-to-skin with their baby on the day of birth were more likely to be involved in caring for and playing with the baby. during the following months. As for testosterone, if its level was lower than usual during the first two days of the infant's life, fathers were more involved in the care that follows, compared to those whose testosterone did not vary.
"We tend to think that cortisol is a 'bad' hormone, but babies require a lot of care, which requires vigilance," said Patty Kuo, co-author of the study. "We think high cortisol is a kind of guidance response that can help the body prepare for childcare," she added. Thus, as long as the level of cortisol of fathers is not drastically high at the time of the birth of their child, there is no need to worry, since it would be a normal response, having benefits for the future.
Some studies tend to confirm this link, as young mothers are more likely to respond to baby's signals of hunger or illness through increased cortisol levels.
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