Written by Editorial Team
Have you ever known of a new research that focuses on a hormone that predicts the degree of bonding between the mother and the child? Indeed, there is such a hormone – Oxytocin. Oxytocin is a Nano peptide hormone that plays a vital part in all the aspects of motherhood, and even of our social and romantic interaction. Continue reading to know what is oxytocin and what is its role in labor and delivery.
Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. It is also called the “cuddle hormone” or the “love hormone” since it is released when individuals cuddle up or bond socially. Oxytocin is a vital hormone for women. It is closely associated with uterine contraction during labor. The oxytocin levels in the body increases with progressing contractions. Uterine contractions will not be sufficient if the production of oxytocin in the body is less. In such cases, the doctor may recommend oxytocin in synthetic for through intravenous. However he will start will low dose. It is also administered intravenously to women who undergo post birth bleeding. So it is necessary that oxytocin is taken under proper medical supervision.
As mentioned earlier, oxytocin is known to play a key role in a woman’s social and romantic relations by providing her with a sense of calm by decreasing stress and anxiety, which in turn develops confidence and helps in bonding. So it is not unexpected that oxytocin is directly involved with falling in love and getting pregnant. Oxytocin can impact things like:
The hormone oxytocin has a vital role in labor. Oxytocin is released in large quantity during the labor. The cervix must dilate (open) to around 10cm for the baby to pass through. Oxytocin goes hand in hand with other hormones like relaxin to stimulate the ripening of the cervix leading to its progressive dilation during labor. This spike of oxytocin in the blood also intensifies the uterine contractions. It is the uterine contractions open the cervix and permit the baby to pass through the birth canal. Oxytocin increases as labor progresses, peaking during the actual birth of your baby. Doctors have been utilizing synthetic oxytocin, which is also known by its brand name Pitocin, for inducing or augmenting the labor from a long time. The higher level of oxytocin likewise diminishes the sensation of pain during labor.
Due to emotional connection, if the pregnant woman experiences any kind of fear, worry, stress, discomfort, or doubt during labor, then it can negatively affect oxytocin production. Sometimes the feeling of being watched can also hamper oxytocin release. The use of synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin which helps to stimulate contractions and is used to induce labor can also slow down body’s ability to produce oxytocin.
Here are some of the side effects of taking synthetic oxytocin in labor:
All pregnant women cannot be administered synthetic oxytocin even if their natural oxytocin levels are low. Your doctor will have a look into the medical history and health of the pregnant woman before deciding on administering oxytocin. Synthetic oxytocin is not prescribed if:
It is very important for the pregnant woman to take necessary precautions when taking synthetic oxytocin. Following care must be taken when using oxytocin for inducing labor:
Were you given synthetic oxytocin during Labor? Do share your experience of using synthetic oxytocin in the comments section below.
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