In my last post, I discussed the Epidural as a method of pain relief in labor. Though I discussed it’s application and drawbacks I neglected to mention that though I do not recommend getting an epidural, it is commonly believed to help during especially long, drawn out and painful labor, (such as back labor) and is known to benefit women whom cannot relax during labor and whose fear prohibits them from allowing the pelvic floor to release and allow the baby to descend. So, to be fair, I must mention this aspect of the Epidural pain relief.
I really wanted to discuss further the Hormonal Blueprint of Labor. By the ninth month, most pregnant women have had it up to their eyeballs with thoughts about their hormones. I know mine were wild during both of my pregnancies and made me a bit crazy. However our hormones have a very important role to play in the dance of labor.
First of all, we are not entirely sure what signals labor to start. Some believe that the baby may release a hormone that triggers the start of contractions in the mother when she is ready to be born. The hormone responsible for nice strong regular contractions is called oxytocin. This is reproduced as a synthetic Pitocin that is often administered in hospitals once you are…yes–hooked up to your IV and epidural. The body’s own natural oxytocin is a perfectly safe and wonderful hormone to keep the uterus contracting to help the cervix dilate and the baby to be born. The body does not produce too much oxytocin, and will never produce such strong contractions that will keep the baby from receiving enough oxygen, as Pitocin application can do.
The pain of contractions signal the brain to release endorphins, a natural opiate which is of course a pain reliever. This cycle goes on quite nicely uninterrupted but can become stalled if the laboring woman is stressed by loud noises, bright light, direct analytical questions. That sounds like the hospital and nursing staff, right? So this “normal hospital” environment can stimulate the fight or flight response, which in turn can stop or stall labor, as it releases adrenaline which is not helpful in progression of labor. Adrenaline is a hormone that makes it’s presence felt in the second stage of labor when the mother feels a natural urge to push. A surge of this hormone can help her to birth her baby quickly and easily.
This hormonal balance is like a finely choreographed dance performance. If it gets off step, or interrupted in any way, it can alter the rest of the show. This performance is the body’s own natural response to a perfectly normal state of being, pregnancy. We just need to give our body the perfect setting in which to act out this dance of birth, and it will complete the steps all on it’s own.
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