How to have a euphoric birth
Giving birth to a child is, at its basic level the closest we ever become with other animals in the mammalian kingdom of which we share the same primal instincts with when it comes to labour and birth. Yup, that is right. Whether we are a cat, dog, giraffe or horse, we all have the same hormones driving the physical process of labour and birth.
In this blog post, I will introduce you to the stars of the show and share my top tips for getting yourself in the right hormonal state for childbirth.
So, what are the hormones of labour and birth?
1. Oxytocin – the hormone love!
The hormone of love causes the uterus to contract during labour and gradually builds up during labour reaching its peak level at the time of birth helping create a feeling of euphoria when mother sees her baby for the first time. Oxytocin is also a major hormone involved in a mother after birth recovery, helping set her up for breastfeeding and bonding with baby, as well as separating the placenta from the uterus and contracting the uterus back down to its normal position in the pelvis. Oxytocin also helps prepare a mother biologically for physical and emotional demands of infant care.
2. Prolactin – the nurturing hormone!
Most notable after birth this hormone helps to produce breastmilk. When baby suckles at the breast, this helps to create more and more prolactin which in turn helps to set mother up for successful breastfeeding. It also creates the nurturing response in a mother, where she is displays caution, care, protectiveness, and devotion to baby needs and safety. Combined with oxytocin this is a powerhouse response helping mother become satisfied with ongoing giving to baby needs through the formidable strength of pure love.
3. Melatonin – the hormone of darkness!
Melatonin a hormone that is released at nighttime to regulate our sleep wake cycles and is the silent star of the show. In birth, it synergises with oxytocin to contract the uterus and crosses the placenta to give your baby oxytocin – meaning more love hormones are being sent to baby to feel calm and safe. This is why it is so important to birth in an environment with minimal night, and explains why a lot of women will go into labour at nighttime (when this hormone is at its peak levels)
4. Beta endorphins - nature’s relaxant!
Beta endorphins are released by the brain in times of stress or pain and is the natural equivalent to morphine. Research shows they are 20-40 times more potent than synthetic forms of pain relief. They are designed to help women cope with the intensity of the uterine contractions, encourage a woman to get in touch with her instinct and bring them into their own inner world or ‘labour bubble’.
And how do you get in the right hormonal state for childbirth?
Birth is a marathon. It is so important to be in your least stressed state in the lead up to birth, as well in the best health as possible. Eat nourishing foods, drink lots of water and do what you can to slow down and relax in the weeks leading up to birth.
In terms of your environment, it is really important to keep away from bright lights in the lead up and during labour, a low or dimly lit environments will help with oxytocin and melatonin production and also keeps you in the primal part of your brain which is the section of the brain that is wired for childbirth. Remaining in this part of the brain is really important factor for labour progression.
It is also critical that you feel safe, loved and supported by your caregivers and birth support team. Ensuring you have the right supportive time by your side in pregnancy is worth every penny, because when it comes to labour and birth having the right type of emotional support makes all the difference when trying to birth physiologically.
What if I need a c-section?
Pregnancy and labour can sometimes be challenging and twists and turns can happen making a physiological birth not an option for you. From a hormonal point of view, in regard to melatonin and oxytocin levels it is beneficial to have a c-section later on in labour if possible; however in the scenario of an elective or emergency c-section there is still ways to ensure you have a relaxed and gently caesarean birth. You can also do things in pregnancy to ensure you have planned out your postpartum in a way that promotes the right production of hormones which will ease your transition into motherhood, improve you bond with baby and support your breastfeeding journey. These include ensuring skin to skin with baby, having uninterrupted bonding time after birth, keeping lighting levels low, remaining nourished and hydrated and ensuring you have support systems set up for your postpartum including a village or team of people to help with cooking, laundry and other household chores.
What if I need to get induced?
The synthetic form of oxytocin does not work in the same way as natural oxytocin so it is a really good idea to get educated on what inductions mean for your birth experience and how they will change it. An inducted birth tends to mean that you will have other medical interventions before and during labour including possibilities such as less invasive induction methods first, before you are placed onto an IV drip, or continuous electronic monitoring which will restrict your ability to move around the room or use natural pain relief techniques such as water immersion. When you understand this, you can then plan for what you can do to improve the comfort and satisfaction of your experience, such as knowing what positions you can get into on the bed or a birth ball. All the tips above in getting into the right hormonal state for childbirth will still apply in the lead up to and during your inducted birth - but the power is really in the knowledge about what is going to happen to your body and how you will be managed medically as not having any clue about what inductions involve can potentially throw you into a state of distress in the day.