all about oxytocin - interventions
Now that I’ve laid out the basic functions and mechanisms about oxytocin’s roles in labor, birth, and postpartum, let’s talk about how common interventions can affect this system. For the sake of this post, an intervention refers to anything that disrupts physiological labor and birth.
The first intervention. Trust me, I know not everyone wants to or is able to give birth at home. However, to borrow a quote from Sarah Buckley, “Giving birth in a foreign place is really the first intervention.” Oxytocin is best released in a quiet and dim environment, somewhere private where you feel safe. Even if you feel comfortable in a hospital setting, your primal labor brain may think otherwise. Bring items from home to make your birth space more familiar - essential oils, string lights, your pillow or blanket. You may also consider bringing noise-canceling headphones and an eye mask.
Pitocin, or synthetic oxytocin. Often used to induce or augment labor, pitocin is administered through an IV. In low doses this can help initiate the positive feedback loop, but higher doses increase stress and the intensity or pain of surges. More in this blog post about pain during labor. If you are induced, keep doing all the things that help your body release oxytocin naturally. You can request at any point to lower the pitocin or turn it off to see if your body maintains contractions on its own.
Epidural anesthesia. If you choose to get an epidural, keep in mind that the local anesthetic blocks the positive feedback loop from your uterus to your brain which causes natural oxytocin levels to drop. As with pitocin, keep doing what you can to increase your oxytocin levels naturally. There is also a decrease in oxytocin flow to the brain which may delay bonding after birth. Request skin-to-skin immediately and encourage your baby to latch as soon as possible. This will trigger oxytocin release.
Cesarean section. Depending on the events leading up to the decision, there may have been little if any time to build up your natural oxytocin. If you have time before the surgery, request immediate skin-to-skin and breast or chestfeeding as soon as possible. This will likely be dependent on the urgency of the situation and health of both you and your baby. If your baby is given to you already swaddled, don’t be afraid to unwrap them and get those skin-to-skin snuggles. I also suggest avoiding baby hats. Inhaling your baby’s scent results in another big release of oxytocin.
If your natural oxytocin flow was severely inhibited during labor, keep in mind that you may not experience an immediate rush of loving feelings for your baby. In any birth situation, insist that your baby be placed immediately on your chest instead of being brought to the warmer. The closeness, skin-to-skin, and eye contact with your baby results in a huge release of oxytocin which will help increase your feelings of attachment. Stay skin-to-skin as long as you are able. You may also request that all newborn exams and procedures be done while doing skin-to-skin.
Lower levels of natural oxytocin at the time of birth may also have a negative impact on lactation. As mentioned in the previous blog post, oxytocin is necessary for the milk let-down reflex. I highly recommend meeting with a lactation consultant during pregnancy and scheduling a meeting with one as soon as possible after birth. You may also want to sit in on a La Leche League meeting during pregnancy as well.
Make sure to have a discussion with your doula, OB-GYN, or midwife about all of your options well in advance of the onset of labor. Please send me a message if you would like to talk more.
