Does maternal instinct “kick in”?
That’s a loaded question. It kicks in chemically during labor, in the form of oxytocin, which is the hormone that is responsible for those ovewhelming waves of love towards your offspring. That’s “maternal instinct” specifically. We’re all capable of producing oxytocin, but nothing kicks it off like labor. Second best is breastfeeding, and the third highest oxytocin release that women experience (and the highest level men produce) is during orgasm. Beyond that, our bodies can produce it during other activity as well, just in lesser doses. However, other human instincts (and their different biochemical cocktails) can also initiate caring, nurturing behavior in both men and women. It doesn’t have to be towards your own child, and it doesn’t even have to be a child at all. In fact, the recipient of your natural human compassion and desire to care for others may well be an animal, or even your azaleas! “Maternal instinct” could arguably include all of our natural drives to care for people/
