HORMONES IN BIRTHING
Mother Nature has endowed women with an internal system to handle growing, birthing and feeding a baby. A complex array of hormones play a crucial role in pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. These hormones make birth easier, safer, and even ecstatic- for those who are willing to stay open to the experience.
Unfortunately, as experts in the field of Natural Birthing are pointing out, today the percentage of women who trust and rely on these natural hormones,to give birth, is "touching zero", relying instead on artificial and synthetic chemical hormones.
Within the body, a "hormonal cocktail", starts unfolding with pregnancy, to protect, and make the birthing process smooth and easy.
The main ingredients of this hormone cocktail during labour and birth are:
Oxytocin
Popularly called as the 'love hormone’ oxytocin is released during sexual activity, orgasms, birth, and breastfeeding – stimulating the feelings of security, warmth, pleasure and bliss. It also causes the rhythmic uterine contractions during labour. This hormone increases throughout labour and is highest at the time of birth. It makes a woman feel euphoric and keeps her open to interactions with her newborn baby. The Baby’s body also produces oxytocin, creating a hormonally driven "love bonding" with the mother after birth.
Oxytocin is also needed after the birth to aid in the release of the placenta, and to decrease postpartum bleeding. Pitocin and syntocinon are synthetic forms of oxytocin used for labor induction but these synthetic hormones do not act the same way as naturally occurring oxytocin does.
Endorphins
These are natural pain killers. Beta endorphins also causes feelings of pleasure, euphoria, and dependency which is great for bonding with a newborn baby. Extreme levels of endorphins can slow contractions which is nature’s way of helping a mother adapt to her labour over time. These hormones facilitate prolactin release which is another essential birth hormone.
Prolactin
Prolactin is a necessary component for breastfeeding. It is the hormone that signals the body to make more milk. It is also known as a hormone of submissiveness, anxiety and vigilance, thus giving it the name ‘the mothering hormone’. Prolactin induces new mothers with protective behaviours to keep their babies safe, especially when combined with oxytocin.
Fight-or-flight hormones
The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline and noradrenaline) are also known as the fight-or-flight hormones. If a mother feels especially fearful of birth, these hormones may even cause labour to stop or slow down, and can lead to interventions such as augmentation and cesarean birth. But these hormones are necessary for the birth of the baby. A release of these hormones close to the time of birth give mother a burst of energy to push her baby out once the cervix is fully dilated. Levels of these hormones drop sharply after birth.
According to experts Sarah Buckley and Michel Odent, any disruption of this ‘hormone cocktail’ can have profound effects.
In order to make the most of this hormone cocktail, women need to feel safe and have an undisturbed labour. She needs an environment of privacy, love and support where she would not need to worry about intrusions. A space with dim lights, warmth, soft music and aroma helps relax the mother and promotes the release of right hormones at the right time.
Watch this short video where Michel Odent talks about the role of Oxytocin and other hormones. https://goo.gl/kbeYMb
Source: The Health Awareness Centre, Mumbai
Mother Nature has endowed women with an internal system to handle growing, birthing and feeding a baby. A complex array of hormones play a crucial role in pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. These hormones make birth easier, safer, and even ecstatic- for those who are willing to stay open to the experience.
Unfortunately, as experts in the field of Natural Birthing are pointing out, today the percentage of women who trust and rely on these natural hormones,to give birth, is "touching zero", relying instead on artificial and synthetic chemical hormones.
Within the body, a "hormonal cocktail", starts unfolding with pregnancy, to protect, and make the birthing process smooth and easy.
The main ingredients of this hormone cocktail during labour and birth are:
Oxytocin
Popularly called as the 'love hormone’ oxytocin is released during sexual activity, orgasms, birth, and breastfeeding – stimulating the feelings of security, warmth, pleasure and bliss. It also causes the rhythmic uterine contractions during labour. This hormone increases throughout labour and is highest at the time of birth. It makes a woman feel euphoric and keeps her open to interactions with her newborn baby. The Baby’s body also produces oxytocin, creating a hormonally driven "love bonding" with the mother after birth.
Oxytocin is also needed after the birth to aid in the release of the placenta, and to decrease postpartum bleeding. Pitocin and syntocinon are synthetic forms of oxytocin used for labor induction but these synthetic hormones do not act the same way as naturally occurring oxytocin does.
Endorphins
These are natural pain killers. Beta endorphins also causes feelings of pleasure, euphoria, and dependency which is great for bonding with a newborn baby. Extreme levels of endorphins can slow contractions which is nature’s way of helping a mother adapt to her labour over time. These hormones facilitate prolactin release which is another essential birth hormone.
Prolactin
Prolactin is a necessary component for breastfeeding. It is the hormone that signals the body to make more milk. It is also known as a hormone of submissiveness, anxiety and vigilance, thus giving it the name ‘the mothering hormone’. Prolactin induces new mothers with protective behaviours to keep their babies safe, especially when combined with oxytocin.
Fight-or-flight hormones
The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline and noradrenaline) are also known as the fight-or-flight hormones. If a mother feels especially fearful of birth, these hormones may even cause labour to stop or slow down, and can lead to interventions such as augmentation and cesarean birth. But these hormones are necessary for the birth of the baby. A release of these hormones close to the time of birth give mother a burst of energy to push her baby out once the cervix is fully dilated. Levels of these hormones drop sharply after birth.
According to experts Sarah Buckley and Michel Odent, any disruption of this ‘hormone cocktail’ can have profound effects.
In order to make the most of this hormone cocktail, women need to feel safe and have an undisturbed labour. She needs an environment of privacy, love and support where she would not need to worry about intrusions. A space with dim lights, warmth, soft music and aroma helps relax the mother and promotes the release of right hormones at the right time.
Watch this short video where Michel Odent talks about the role of Oxytocin and other hormones. https://goo.gl/kbeYMb
Source: The Health Awareness Centre, Mumbai
