By Bailey Baldwin
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May 3, 2024
Labor involves a cascade of hormones. These hormones, when the birthing person remains calm and feels safe, can create a smooth labor process. The birth team and environment can support this by helping the birthing person feel loved, cared for. When fear creeps in, the catecholamines work in opposition to the oxytocin. The catecholamines can come from many things like unresolved fears or concerns, a strange environment, past trauma, a change in circumstance. Also of note, when labor is induced or augmented with a synthetic form of oxytocin, like Pitocin, the body may experience an increased pain sensation. Since the Pitocin was not produced by the body, it does not cross the blood brain barrier in the same way. This affects how the body responds with endorphins, which may lead to a need for increased external pain relief. Birth is unpredictable, but the innate trust in the birthing person's abilities, the birth process and the support of the birth team can lead to incredible experiences.