The Hormonal Birth

I know many of you will hear hormonal and jump straight to the idea of emotions flying around and PMS symptoms, but hormones actually play a key role in labor and delivery, especially when it comes time to push. Once your cervix is fully dilated and effaced your body will experience a strong urge to push. This is characterized by increased pelvic floor pressure, an urge to have a bowel movement, pressure in the vagina, and a rush of adrenaline in your body.

The Key hormones that play a role in this are prostaglandin, which contributes to the ripening of your cervix. Prolactin is the mothering hormone that causes nesting behavior evidence even shows that baby will send signals of prolactin to get labor going. Oxytocin is the hormone that causes contractions and helps to create feelings of love, calmness, and connection. Beta-endorphins relieve stress and pain around the time of birth. Lastly catecholamines help you and the baby to feel alert during birth, as well as protecting the baby’s heart and brain during contractions.

Once your body receives the prolactin signal contractions begin. Your body will begin to produce oxytocin stimulating contractions in tandem your body produces beta-endorphins, this is the body’s natural morphine. If you had gotten an epidural to help with this pain this process would’ve been disturbed and your oxytocin levels would drop, slowing contractions down. This is why epidurals often increase the chance of the use of artificial oxytocin (Pitocin). Throughout this process prostaglandin is at work ripening and thinning the cervix. Once you are at 10cm your body will decide that it is time for the baby to get out, this is known as the fetal ejection reflex. At this point your body will produce a surge of catecholamines that boost contraction strength, opening the cervix, and gives you a boost of energy to push. This hormone continues to boost and before you know it you will have a baby. After you have your baby, oxytocin levels will rise causing feelings of calm and closeness, your blood vessels will also open up which will keep your baby warm for skin-to-skin and reduce bleeding on your part. This rise in oxytocin will also encourage the placenta to come out.

Hormones are always at play in your body and play a huge role in so many processes. I’ve linked a great reading below to give you more understanding, but I hope that this has helped!

Pathway to a Healthy Birth Booklet

Rachel :)