There is a time and place for each hormone involved in birth. Did you know that from labor to healing, there is a symphony of hormones coordinating the perfect timing and perfect amounts needed to facilitate uterine contractions, cope with the intensity of contractions, produce milk, and more. Let’s take a look at the hormones involved in birth.
Prostaglandins
soften and thin the cervix
Naturally occurring in sperm
Released from uterine cells during contractions
Works in relation to production of oxytocin
Oxytocin (the Love Hormone)
Promoted by warmth, comfort, feelings of trust and safety, nipple stimulation, and orgasm
Causes the uterus to contract and move baby down the birth canal
Produced as the birth canal stretches
Communicates with brain to release endorphins
Triggers contractions of uterus to release placenta
Increased by skin to skin and baby suckling at the breast
stimulates hormone prolactin producing colostrum and milk
Increased by milk ejection from breast
Production supported by Vitamin C, Magnesium, and Vitamin D
Works directly in relation with prostaglandin, endorphin, and prolactin release
Pitocin (often labeled oxytocin in the hospital) is not chemically the same - more on pitocin in another post
Endorphins (Feel good Hormones)
Blocks pain receptors
Induces feeling of pleasure
Promoted by physical activity and feelings of love and support
Altered state of consciousness known as “Labor Land”
this primal state of consciousness can ensure continued release of oxytocin
Not released with use of pitocin
Catecholamines (Stress Hormones)
Engages fight or flight response
Can stall labor if the body perceives danger to the point of retracting baby back into the body to protect
Can stall labor when triggered early by environmental stress (bright lights, noises, unknown people coming in and out of the room), emotional stress (being unheard or unsupported, being gaslit, feeling of “going into battle,” feeling anxious, worried or scared), or physical stress (long periods of physical exertion without proper rest or nourishment)
Powers the fetal ejection reflex
Helps baby transition from womb to world (including breathing, regulating temperature, and blood sugar on his or her own)
Prolactin
Stimulated by oxytocin (baby at the breast, nipple stimulation, sound of baby crying, bonding with partner or baby)
Forms mammary glands in breasts
Responsible for synthesis of casein (protein), lactose (carbohydrates), and lipids for the perfect milk for your baby
Down regulated during times of high progesterone like pregnancy
Highest levels are produced at night
Induces drowsiness so mother can rest
Hormones work in positive feedback loops. Left uninterrupted, these hormones are able to communicate to each other to release the continuous and perfect amount of each to progress labor, reduce pain, produce milk, and heal from birth. God’s design of the mother’s body is truly a miracle to behold. Each hormone has such wisdom and specificity to its timing of release and function in the birth process.
This knowledge of hormones also speaks to the dyad of mother and baby. The first few months of life, your baby might be outside of your body, but both mother and baby function optimally together as much as possible–day and night. While not all new mothers may feel this instinctual pull to be with their baby day and night for varying reasons, being close to your baby most of the time throughout the fourth trimester allows the best circumstances for your body to heal and replenish from birth, while nourishing and bonding with your baby.
Whether or not you plan to have or have had an intervention-free birth, it is empowering to know the functional role of those wise hormones in your body. With this knowledge, you can trust that God has equipped your body with the tools to birth your baby in perfect timing.
You can also rest assured that stressful situations can be understood better if you do have interventions. For example, if you choose to have an epidural or pitocin, it might delay your milk coming in, because your body’s oxytocin production has been stalled. So when you receive stressful or fear-driven instructions to formula feed your baby to get their weight back up within a week of being born, you can give yourself grace, nourish your body with food and love, focus on resting and bonding with your baby and family to bathe yourself in oxytocin again.
God designed you and your story with so much love and intention, mama. May you receive that today.
Want to know more about birth doula support? Contact Zo’e here.
