How does our inner pharmacy of hormones work optimally to support us during labour and birth?
Without fear and resistance these necessary hormones are released in the right order at the right time. This is the body’s innate intelligence.
Oxytocin. On an emotional level oxytocin is known as the hormone of “calm connection” and “love”. On a physiological level it is contractile. Oxytocin receptors on the uterus are activated towards the end of pregnancy and the release of oxytocin in the mothers system causes the uterus to contract. Oxytocin is sensitive to catecholamines and when fear is present oxytocin production be inhibited and labour will slow or stall.
Both mother and baby continue to release oxytocin post birth, enhanced by skin to skin, eye contact and breast feeding. Oxytocin causes the “letdown” of breast milk, maternal behaviour, and feelings of well-being and love.
Endorphins. These morphine-like “feel good” hormones are released under conditions of duress and pain when it acts as a natural pain reliever. Blocking off pain receptors and moving the labouring woman into a trance like state where she can access her primal birthing power. They induce feelings of pleasure and euphoria helping her to transmute pain and enter the altered state of consciousness that characterises an undisturbed birth. These hormones contribute to the “high” feelings that many unmedicated women have after birth, because once the stress or pain ends, the woman has the leftover euphoric effects of the endorphins.
Catecholamines. The stress hormones (adrenalin or epinephrine, noradrenalin or norepinephrine, cortisol, and others) are secreted when a person is frightened, angry, or is in real or perceived danger. These are the hormones of “fight or flight.” Their physiologic effects enable the person’s body to endure, defend against, or flee a dangerous situation. Catecholamines tend to counteract the effects of oxytocin and endorphins. In the first stage, contractions may either space out or continue without progress in dilation. Also, the fetal heart rate may slow, and/or the woman may become tense, alert, fearful, and protective of her unborn child.
Although catecholamines are contraindicated in the first stage of a normal labour, they do have a role during the second stage, when a surge of catecholamines is normal, and helps mobilise the strength, effort, and alertness needed to push the baby out.
Prolactin. The “nesting hormone” prepares the breasts for breastfeeding during pregnancy and after birth, promotes the synthesis of milk, and has mood elevating and calming effects on the mother. It seems to play a role in the altruistic behaviour of a new mother – the ability to put the baby’s needs before her own.
The foetus and newborn also produce these hormones, which contribute to fetal well-being during labor, neonatal adaptation, initiation of breastfeeding, and other possible functions.
References. Simkin, P. Buckley, S. (2008.) Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: Celestial Arts, Berkeley.Odent M. (1987). The Fetus Ejection Reflex. Birth. 14: 104-105.Uvnas-Moberg K. (2003). The Oxytocin Factor: Tapping the Hormone of Calm, Love and Healing. Da Capo Press, Cambridge, MA.Taylor S. (2002). The Tending Instinct: Times Books; New York.
Further Reading
Sarah Buckley’s free ebook ” Ecstatic Birth, Nature’s Hormonal Blueprint for Labour.” Download at www.sarahbuckley.com
Hello Darkness my old Friend by Ruth Ehrhardt. Read it HERE
Question for contemplation & journalling:
What can have a negative impact and interfere with our hormone production and therefore birth and how can we create an environment that will best support these hormones and enhance our experience of birth?
