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Hormones Driving Labor and BirthDo women need to learn how to give birth? What powerful hormones affect the process of labor and birth? What is the role of oxytocin during labor and birth? What is the role of endorphins during labor and birth? What is the role of adrenaline during labor and birth? What steps can women take to help ensure that these hormones work well? Do women need to learn how to give birth?Women do not need to learn how to give birth! A woman's body is already organized and finely tuned to do this work. But it is important that a woman and their caregivers understand how to work with — and avoid disrupting — her body's inborn knowledge, drive, and direction for giving birth and caring for her baby. It is fascinating to learn about the amazing capabilities of mothers and babies.What powerful hormones affect the process of labor and birth?It can be especially helpful to know about three of the many hormones involved with reproduction: oxytocin, endorphin, and adrenaline. These hormones play a major role in regulating the process of labor and birth.Learning about these can help a woman understand what will happen during labor and birth. Women and caregivers can take actions that support or disrupt effective action of these hormones. So, understanding how they work and how they are affected is important for making informed decisions. What is the role of oxytocin during labor and birth?Oxytocin is often known as the "hormone of love" because it is involved with lovemaking, fertility, contractions during labor and birth, and the release of milk in breastfeeding. It helps us feel good, and it triggers nurturing feelings and behaviors.Receptor cells allowing a woman's body to respond to oxytocin increase gradually in pregnancy, and then sharply in labor. Oxytocin is a potent stimulator of contractions, which help to dilate the cervix, move the baby down and out of her body, give birth to her placenta, and limit bleeding at the site of the placenta. During labor and birth, the pressure of the baby against the cervix and then against tissues in the pelvic floor stimulates oxytocin and contractions. So does a suckling newborn. Low levels of oxytocin during labor and birth can cause problems by:
What is the role of endorphins during labor and birth?Endorphins are calming and pain-relieving hormones that people produce in response to stress and pain. The level of this natural morphine-like substance may rise toward the end of pregnancy, and then rises steadily and steeply during unmedicated labors. (Most studies have found a sharp drop in endorphin levels with use of epidural or opioid pain medication.) High endorphin levels during labor and birth can produce an altered state of consciousness that helps women flow with the process, even when it is long and arduous. Despite the hard work of labor and birth, a woman with high endorphin levels can feel alert, attentive, and even euphoric as she begins to get to know and care for her baby after birth. Endorphins may play a role in strengthening the mother-infant relationship at this time. A drop in endorphin levels in the days after birth may contribute to the "blues" that many women experience at this time.Low levels of endorphin can cause problems in labor and birth by:
What is the role of adrenaline during labor and birth?Adrenaline is the "fight or flight" hormone that humans produce to help ensure survival. Women who feel threatened during labor (for example by fear or severe pain) may produce high levels of adrenaline. Adrenaline can slow labor or stop it altogether. Earlier in human evolution, this disruption helped birthing women move to a place of greater safety.Too much adrenaline can cause problems in labor and birth by:
What steps can women take to help ensure that these hormones work well?A woman can promote her body's production of oxytocin during labor and birth by:
A woman can enhance her body's production of endorphins during labor and birth by:
A woman can keep adrenaline down during labor and birth by staying calm, comfortable, and relaxed. The following can help:
Most recent page update: 1/16/2007
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