Hormones in labour
I want to tell you about the fascinating and important role that hormones play in your labour. Our hormones are our body’s chemical messengers, and they originate in the oldest part of our brain.
There are many hormones associated with labour, but the four main ones we know most about are oxytocin, sometimes called the hormone of love; prolactin, which is the mothering hormone; beta endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers; and adrenaline and noradrenaline, also known as the fight or flight hormones.
Prolactin is often called the nesting hormone. As we go into early labour, prolactin is released and it creates in us a desire to make a place that feels really safe to give birth.
The second hormone is oxytocin. It is oxytocin that causes the uterus to contract. But before we talk about its role in labour, I want to talk about it during pregnancy. Oxytocin is really important in helping with bonding with your baby.
From about 20 weeks, your baby can hear your voice and what is going on around them. So I would encourage you, whenever you feel your baby moving, to respond by stroking your tummy and talking to your baby. What this does is release oxytocin and support your baby’s brain development.
The importance of oxytocin cannot be underestimated. It is oxytocin that causes your uterus to contract. Oxytocin levels are higher when it is dark, which is why labour often starts in the middle of the night.
Oxytocin gradually rises through labour and reaches its highest level just as your baby is being born. It contributes to that feeling of euphoria and receptiveness that many new mums experience.
In the early stage of labour, we want your body to produce as much oxytocin as possible. It is important to create an environment where you feel relaxed and secure. Choose carefully who you spend time with at this stage. You don’t want to be with someone who causes you stress, as this can suppress oxytocin. Instead, spend time with people who help you relax, laugh, and feel at ease.
This can also be a really special time for you and your partner to feel connected. They might give you a massage, such as a hand or foot massage, or you might do things that remind you how much you love each other. For example, you might look at your wedding album or photos from a favourite holiday or special day. You might also listen to a song that is meaningful to you. All of these things can help you feel connected, relaxed, and support the release of oxytocin.
The third hormone I want to talk about is adrenaline and noradrenaline. These are the fight or flight hormones, and they are released when we feel stressed. When adrenaline rises, oxytocin falls.
This goes back to how we used to give birth in the wild. If we were in labour and suddenly felt unsafe, our adrenaline would rise and labour would slow down or stop, allowing us to move to a safer place to give birth.
This is why we encourage you to stay at home for as long as possible in the early stage of labour, as this is usually where you feel most relaxed and calm. This helps oxytocin to rise gradually.
You might be at home contracting well and feel ready to come into maternity assessment. But when you travel in, perhaps you encounter traffic or struggle to find parking, this can cause stress. Adrenaline rises, oxytocin falls, and contractions may slow down or stop. This is quite normal.
As midwives, we then focus on helping you feel calm and relaxed again, so that oxytocin can rise and contractions can continue.
The fourth hormone is beta endorphins. These are the body’s natural painkillers and are released during times of stress. They have a cumulative effect, so as oxytocin rises during labour, endorphins rise too.
You might have watched programmes like One Born Every Minute and wondered how people cope with the intensity of established labour. What you don’t see when watching is that their bodies are full of beta endorphins, which help them cope.
When you reach established labour, you may find you can manage much more than you expected. Beta endorphins can give you a sense of strength, empowerment, and even a feeling of being almost like “superwoman”.
Although adrenaline and noradrenaline can interfere with oxytocin earlier on, they do have an important role later in labour. Just before your baby is born, there is often a quieter phase called transition, followed by a surge of adrenaline.
This surge gives you extra energy, alertness, and awareness of your surroundings to help you birth your baby. It may also make you want to move into a more upright position. I would encourage you to go with your body, follow your instincts, and choose what feels most comfortable.
After your baby is born, your adrenaline levels drop quickly. This can make you feel shaky or cold, which is completely normal.
Oxytocin continues to play an important role after birth. It helps the uterus continue to contract, allowing the placenta to separate and be delivered along with the membranes. It also supports your transition to motherhood by promoting feelings of connection and bonding with your baby.
After delivery, prolactin rises sharply. This supports breastfeeding and strengthens that protective instinct—the feeling that a mother will do anything to care for her newborn baby.