Cortisol and Prolactin

I've read in a number of places that when a father becomes the primary care giver for a baby, his body starts producing two chemicals in greater quantity, cortisol and prolactin.

Cortisol is associated with being alert and aware. It basically keeps you tuned into the things going on around you. When your baby is scampering around trying to find creative ways to use a hair dryer, an extra shot of cortisol is a good thin However, when you're trying to fall asleep, an extra shot of cortisol is a bad thing. High levels of cortisol mean if the cat sneezes in the basement, it's enough to spring me back to reality if I were, say, drifting off for a snooze. I feel a lot more alert to noises than I was before the arrival of the baby. I'm pretty sure I can actually feel the cortisol doing it's thing.

Prolactin is a different story.

Prolactin is mostly associated with producing milk and so far, I'm happy to report, I have not been doing any of that. I'm not sure what other purpose it serves. There's probably something else it's supposed to do besides the whole milk thing. Otherwise, why would I experience a spike in my prolactin levels. It's like someone placing an order for a root beer float at a doctor's office. Even if they could make it for you, they probably couldn't serve you properly.

Either way, I feel a little strange knowing these chemical changes are going on. Especially, the prolactin thing. So I decided to re-man myself a little bit this afternoon. I sat down a while back to listen to some manly music, some brash classic rock or something similar. I settled on KISS though I'm not really sure why. Seems like a fairly manly band.

You gotta be manly to rock kitty-cat face paint

Well, as I listened, I spent some time reading up on KISS online and discovered that Peter Criss, a former KISS guitarist, is a breast cancer survivor.

Richard Roundtree, the guy who played Shaft, also had breast cancer. And who could possibly more manly than Shaft? He's one bad mother...

Shut your mouth...

Well, if Peter Criss and Shaft can get breast cancer I guess I can be okay with making prolactin. It takes a real man to admit he's making prolactin.

Listening To: Lateralus by Tool*

*Fairly manly music