All about Oxytocin

In honor of Valentines Day approaching, I would like to talk about oxytocin-- the hormone of love. You may know that oxytocin is released when you sit down to eat that box of valentine chocolates, snuggle up to your honey after a romantic date, or while making love. You may not know that this hormone plays a vital role in the onset and continuation of labor. Oxytocin may be more free flowing at home, where a woman is comfortable and feels safe. Sometimes, when a woman gets to the hospital, the flow of oxytocin can be inhibited and labor may slow or even stop. Often times when a woman's labor is not progressing as a medical provider would like it to, they may implement the usage of pitocin, the synthetic form of oxytocin. If you understand the essential role of oxytocin in labor, you can help enhance the flow of it and may even prevent your labor from slowing or stopping.

In order to understand the relevance of oxytocin to labor, it is important to liken its relevance during orgasm. A surge of oxytocin creating height of orgasm is only released under the right conditions. Scientific research has found that during orgasm, the parts of the brain that help us to think logically and control our behavior actually shut down. For women, another part of our brains is actually stimulated during orgasm. This part of the brain controls our "fight or flight" response-- meaning that women must feel safe in order to let go and allow orgasm to take place. (http://health.howstuffworks.com/sexual-health/sexuality/brain-during-orgasm2.htm) As a side note, you may also be interested to know that some scientists have found that orgasm causes the cervix to contract and draw semen up into the uterus, potentially enhancing fertility (http://www.beautifulcervix.com/cervix-photo-galleries/photos-of-cervix/pre-and-post-coitus/).

You can imagine that it would be difficult to have an incredible orgasm with lots of unfamiliar people milling about the room where you were making love, bright lights shining on you, or if there were machines loudly beeping, doors slamming and medical personel probing you with questions. If we want to promote oxytocin release during labor, we need to create the right environment! We can do this by dimming the lights, having soft or silent voices, setting the mood with (electric) candles and essential oils, lots of touch and massage, encouraging and endearing words. Skin to skin contact and nipple stimulation can also enhance the release of oxytocin which is often accompanied by endorphins-- the body's natural pain killers (http://oxytocinaccelerator.com/what-is-oxytocin). Ina May Gaskin, a world-renowned midwife, promotes kissing and sexual caressing during labor. Mental preparation for labor is also essential-- preparing your mind with positive messages about birth, as well as believing that you can and will birth your baby. Additionally, having a doula at your side who is trusted and familiar can enhance your feeling of safety in your own birth environment.

After you birth your baby, oxytocin will continue to be released as you breastfeed your baby. This will enhance bonding with your baby, as well as contract your uterus to whip it back into shape and control bleeding. Oxytocin also plays a role in your milk letting down during breastfeeding. Some women find it helpful to nurse privately as this may help them to have a let down if they are having difficulty.

Oxytocin is an incredible hormone that plays such a huge role in female sexuality and reproduction. For more information about oxytocin related to birth, I would highly recommend watching Orgasmic Birth which talks more in depth about the connection between birth and orgasm. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siLbqthiTWo