These hormones help your baby too by protecting them against a lack of oxygen (Buckley, 2002). This will make you feel a sudden rush of energy and will cause several strong contractions and will help you push (Buckley, 2002, 2015). Yet in the late-labour stage if you perceive danger or stress, they may paradoxically stimulate contractions so you give birth more quickly (Buckley 2015).Ī rise in epinephrine when you’re in the later stages of labour increases your levels of prostaglandin and cortisol to help with contractions. You’re likely to get a high level of these hormones if you don’t feel private, calm, safe and undisturbed and they can then inhibit oxytocin (Buckley 2015). They are produced during stresses like fright, anxiety, hunger or cold and also when you’re excited (Buckley 2015). You might have heard these two referred to as fight-or-flight hormones but their proper names are epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline and noradrenaline). Epinephrine and norepinephrine or fight or flight hormones That’s why keeping things as calm as possible is a great thing in labour.īeta-endorphin also helps with the release of prolactin during labour, preparing your breasts for feeding (Rivier et al, 1976).Īnd one more thing: it helps in the final phase of your baby’s developing lungs too (Buckley 2015). If you’re stressed during labour, that can make you release excessive beta-endorphins, which may inhibit oxytocin and slow things down (Buckley 2015).
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Beta-endorphins reduce pain and suppress the immune system, which is important so that it doesn’t act ‘against’ your baby (Buckley, 2002, 2015). Like oxytocin, they mostly appear during sex, pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Beta-endorphins or the pleasure hormonesĮndorphins are naturally occurring opiates, similar to morphine and heroin. It helps with the let-down reflex during breastfeeding and protects you against postpartum haemorrhage (Buckley, 2002). Oxytocin hangs around after birth too, helping you feel more relaxed, well-nourished and bonded with your baby (Buckley 2002, Buckley 2015). Impressively, your baby will also produce oxytocin before and during labour (Chard et al, 1971). Oxytocin reduces stress, calms you down and helps with pain during labour (Buckley, 2015). You’ll get a surge of oxytocin in the final stage, so if you’re having a vaginal birth it will help you along with pushing. Oxytocin will make you feel more affectionate and selfless, and its main function in labour is to bring on contractions (Dawood et al, 1978).
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Oxytocin is the love hormone, which is why it’s released during sex, orgasm, birth and breastfeeding (Odent, 1999 Buckley, 2002). Here’s what impact all four will have on you… Oxytocin or the love hormone
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epinephrine and norepinephrine (the hormones of excitement).beta-endorphins (the hormones of pleasure and transcendence).You’ll in fact have four major hormonal systems active when you’re in labour and giving birth. You know your hormones are going to be working hard at this time but you might not know exactly what they’re doing. Hormones, labour and birth: an introduction