Mammals give birth to dependent offspring which requires significant investment by a mother to care for and protect new-born young. To facilitate the display of essential maternal behaviours, elevated hormones during pregnancy act on a maternal neural network to drive behavioural change. Our work has focused on the pituitary hormone, prolactin and the placental analogue, placental lactogen. Previously we have shown that these hormones acting through the prolactin receptor (Prlr), have a critical role in the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus (MPOA) to promote the onset of maternal nursing behaviour. Subsequently, we identified that in addition to the MPOA, many brain regions that regulate different aspects of maternal behaviour, also express the Prlr or receive prolactin-sensitive projections. Recently, we have found that prolactin has roles in modulating maternal protective behaviour and in ensuring interactions with offspring are rewarding for a mother. Rather than directing one aspect of maternal behaviour, prolactin appears to act throughout the maternal neural network to regulate a broad range of behaviours to ensure optimal care of offspring.