It’s All About Hormones

The medicalization of birth over the last 50 years has mostly served to take away the labouring woman’s ability to tune into and surrender to the hormones in her body that guide the way for birth.

   

Instead, the catalogue of drugs that are now considered a normal part of birth are having a devastating impact on the natural symphony of hormones that left to their own devices should smoothly deliver a baby without any interference.

It all starts with estrogen and progesterone, which are the main hormones for “setting the scene” during pregnancy and organizing other hormonal systems ready for birth. Progesterone is what sustains the pregnancy for the required amount of time, and estrogen then kicks towards the end to increase the number of oxytocin receptors in the uterus to prepare it for labour contractions.

       

Other hormones of labour are endorphins, catecholamines (epinephrine/adrenaline and norepinephrine/noradrenaline) and prolactin, which I’ll write an in-depth blog post about soon.    

Scientists are also starting to understand about the hormonal messages that are sent from the baby to the mum as a signal that the lungs (the last organ to develop fully in utero) are fully formed therefore the baby is ready to be born.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, found that a protein within lung – surfactant - serves as the key hormone to signal that the fetal lungs are mature enough to withstand the transition from breathing through the umbilical cord to air-breathing. Surfactant sends the signal to the mother's uterus which may be the first hormonal signal for labour to begin.

There’s still many questions left unanswered but the scientists are working on those, especially trying to better understand what causes preterm labour. So far, their findings show a connection between a silent bacterial infection in the uterus and preterm labour. If you want to read more about the science, you can find all the summaries here.


These advances in medical science are showing us that the widespread policy of induction and active management of labour goes against the body’s natural hormonal process.

Induction of labour alters the process of nature’s plan in significant ways:

Induced labour is usually more painful, and women who are induced are more likely to ask for an epidural because the body’s natural pain relievers – endorphins – have not had a chance to kick in and are dampened down by each synthetic hormone put into the body.

Women are placed into a higher risk category following induction and are more likely to have an epidural, assisted delivery (forceps or vacuum), a caesarean birth and premature babies.

Due dates aren’t an exact science, only guess dates, because every baby matures at a different rate. So the best advice is to wait until the baby’s lungs sends the signal to the mum’s hormones saying their lungs are mature enough for life.
   

Induction rates have increased dramatically in the last few decades, yet induction isn't always successful. Labour may not start, and it can be very frustrating for women in this situation, feeling already on the clock and that if induction fails, then a caesarean is more likely.
   

The impact of synthetic oxytocin, the induction and 'speed-up labour' drug, is dramatic and can lead to a cascade of intervention. It dampens down the body’s ability to cope with labour pain (endorphins), it dampens down the natural contractions of the muscles to expel the baby from the uterus (oxytocin) and it dampens down the final baby ejection reflex (adrenaline) that gets the baby born. The result is a labour that is more difficult to manage, and the fetal monitor and IV line make movement more difficult.
   

NICE guidance makes it clear that a woman’s decision about whether or not to have an induction should be respected, and that the exact timing should take into account her preferences and circumstances. Some women may take up the offer of induction because they're feeling really heavy and uncomfortable; while others may feel it's not right for them and wish to wait a few more days to let labour starts spontaneously. Medics have to respect that and can't pressure a woman into anything she doesn't give her consent for.
   

But it’s hard when the ‘experts’ are saying “your baby is getting too big” or “your blood pressure is a bit high” or “going past your due date is dangerous for the baby”.

What is recommended by the holistic birthing community is to go along with nature’s plan and let your baby set the scene, not the doctors. Make your own choices and if the doctor seems to be recommending induction but you don’t feel ready, you can simply say ‘I understand your concerns, but I feel my body will tell me when my baby is ready to come’.
   

It’s very hard to do this, but just know that you are the expert over your own body and this is your baby, your decision, your life. You are the consumer of the hospital and ultimately, it is your final decision.

It’s All About Hormones

The medicalization of birth over the last 50 years has mostly served to take away the labouring woman’s ability to tune into and surrender to the hormones in her body that guide the way for birth.

   

Instead, the catalogue of drugs that are now considered a normal part of birth are having a devastating impact on the natural symphony of hormones that left to their own devices should smoothly deliver a baby without any interference.

It all starts with estrogen and progesterone, which are the main hormones for “setting the scene” during pregnancy and organizing other hormonal systems ready for birth. Progesterone is what sustains the pregnancy for the required amount of time, and estrogen then kicks towards the end to increase the number of oxytocin receptors in the uterus to prepare it for labour contractions.

       

Other hormones of labour are endorphins, catecholamines (epinephrine/adrenaline and norepinephrine/noradrenaline) and prolactin, which I’ll write an in-depth blog post about soon.    

Scientists are also starting to understand about the hormonal messages that are sent from the baby to the mum as a signal that the lungs (the last organ to develop fully in utero) are fully formed therefore the baby is ready to be born.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, found that a protein within lung – surfactant - serves as the key hormone to signal that the fetal lungs are mature enough to withstand the transition from breathing through the umbilical cord to air-breathing. Surfactant sends the signal to the mother's uterus which may be the first hormonal signal for labour to begin.

There’s still many questions left unanswered but the scientists are working on those, especially trying to better understand what causes preterm labour. So far, their findings show a connection between a silent bacterial infection in the uterus and preterm labour. If you want to read more about the science, you can find all the summaries here.

These advances in medical science are showing us that the widespread policy of induction and active management of labour goes against the body’s natural hormonal process.

Induction of labour alters the process of nature’s plan in significant ways:

Induced labour is usually more painful, and women who are induced are more likely to ask for an epidural because the body’s natural pain relievers – endorphins – have not had a chance to kick in and are dampened down by each synthetic hormone put into the body.

Women are placed into a higher risk category following induction and are more likely to have an epidural, assisted delivery (forceps or vacuum), a caesarean birth and premature babies.

Due dates aren’t an exact science, only guess dates, because every baby matures at a different rate. So the best advice is to wait until the baby’s lungs sends the signal to the mum’s hormones saying their lungs are mature enough for life.
   

Induction rates have increased dramatically in the last few decades, yet induction isn't always successful. Labour may not start, and it can be very frustrating for women in this situation, feeling already on the clock and that if induction fails, then a caesarean is more likely.
   

The impact of synthetic oxytocin, the induction and 'speed-up labour' drug, is dramatic and can lead to a cascade of intervention. It dampens down the body’s ability to cope with labour pain (endorphins), it dampens down the natural contractions of the muscles to expel the baby from the uterus (oxytocin) and it dampens down the final baby ejection reflex (adrenaline) that gets the baby born. The result is a labour that is more difficult to manage, and the fetal monitor and IV line make movement more difficult.
   

NICE guidance makes it clear that a woman’s decision about whether or not to have an induction should be respected, and that the exact timing should take into account her preferences and circumstances. Some women may take up the offer of induction because they're feeling really heavy and uncomfortable; while others may feel it's not right for them and wish to wait a few more days to let labour starts spontaneously. Medics have to respect that and can't pressure a woman into anything she doesn't give her consent for.
   

But it’s hard when the ‘experts’ are saying “your baby is getting too big” or “your blood pressure is a bit high” or “going past your due date is dangerous for the baby”.

What is recommended by the holistic birthing community is to go along with nature’s plan and let your baby set the scene, not the doctors. Make your own choices and if the doctor seems to be recommending induction but you don’t feel ready, you can simply say ‘I understand your concerns, but I feel my body will tell me when my baby is ready to come’.
   

It’s very hard to do this, but just know that you are the expert over your own body and this is your baby, your decision, your life. You are the consumer of the hospital and ultimately, it is your final decision.