Before we discuss how modern medical interventions like epidurals and synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) can interfere with undisturbed birth, we need to understand the hormones of birth.

The natural regulation of hormone balance is an exceedingly sophisticated and complex process. And although we know the basics of how hormone regulation works, there is still much we don’t understand.

I’ve argued against using supplemental hormones to as a first step in treating hormone imbalances for exactly this reason. Whenever we take hormones, we run the risk of disrupting the delicate negative feedback system that regulates our own internal production of these hormones.

The image that comes to mind is a monkey in the cockpit of the space shuttle pushing a bunch of buttons.

Perhaps that’s an exaggeration, but the point is that any intervention that risks disrupting natural hormone balance and regulation is apt to cause problems. And there’s no time that’s more true than during pregnancy and childbirth.

The hormones of birth

The hormones of birth include estrogen and progesterone, oxytocin, beta-endorphins, prolactin and catecholamines (epinephrine/adrenaline and norepinephrine/noradrenaline).

Estrogen and progesterone

Estrogen and progesterone are the main hormones involved in “setting the scene” for birth, including activating, inhibiting and reorganizing other hormone systems. They both play a crucial role in the initiation of labor. For example, the placental production of estriol increases by more than 1,000 times close to the onset of labor, and progesterone production increases 10-18 times higher.

Estrogen has also been shown to increase the number of uterine oxytocin receptors and gap junctions in late pregnancy, which is thought to prepare the uterus for contractions in labor.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is the hormone associated with the contractions of labor and birth in all mammalian species. It has also been referred to as the hormone of love because of its involvement with sexual activity, orgasm, birth and breastfeeding.

In the context of undisturbed birth, Odent refers to oxytocin as the hormone of “forgetting oneself”.¹ This is crucial because a fundamental aspect of an undisturbed birth is the sensation of an altered state of consciousness: “being transported” or “going to another world”.

Oxytocin is stored in the anterior pituitary and released in pulses every 3-5 minutes during early labor, becoming more frequent as labor progresses. Keep this in mind when we discuss the differences between natural oxytocin and synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) used to induce labor in hospitals.

Current research suggests that oxytocin is the initiator of the rhythmic contractions of early labor, while prostaglandins produced locally in the uterus assume that role later in labor.

Some recent studies have found that oxytocin produced by the fetus may directly stimulate the mother’s uterine muscle, suggesting that the baby may be responsible for initiating labor.

Finally, oxytocin plays several important roles after birth. High levels of oxytocin produced as the baby stimulates the mother’s breast help keep the uterus contracted and prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Oxytocin mediates the “milk ejection reflex” which allows for successful breastfeeding. And, as the hormone of love, oxytocin promotes the development of a strong bond between mother and baby.

Beta-endorphin

Beta-endorphin is a naturally occurring opiate that acts to restore homeostasis (internal balance). It is secreted by the pituitary gland in times of pain and stress. It activates the mesocorticolimbic dopamine reward system and produces pleasure in association with sex, birth and breastfeeding.

Studies suggest beta-endorphin increases tolerance to pain and suppresses the immune system, both of which are important during birth.

Beta-endorphin is similar to the addictive opiates morphine and heroin in that it induces feelings of pleasure, euphoria and dependency. Beta-endorphin levels during labor reach similar levels to those found in male endurance athletes during maximal exercise on a treadmill.

High levels of beta-endorphin help the mother to tolerate the pain of labor and nudge the her into the altered state of consciousness that characterizes an undisturbed birth. After the baby has been born, beta-endorphin (like oxytocin) reinforces the mother-infant bond and contributes to ecstatic feelings for both.

Finally, beta-endorphin promotes the release of prolactin during labor, which prepares the mother’s breast for lactation and aids in lung maturation for the baby.

Prolactin

Prolactin is known as the mothering hormone. It’s released by the pituitary during pregnancy and lactation, and it prepares a pregnant woman’s breasts for lactation.

During breastfeeding, prolactin levels influence sucking intensity, duration and frequency. Researchers believe prolactin (together with oxytocin) is responsible for the elevation of mood and feeling of calm mothers experience after breastfeeding.

Prolactin is also believed to play an important role in maternal behavior after birth via its effect on the nursing mother’s brain. It has been referred to as the hormone of “submission” or “surrender”. In the breastfeeding relationship, it may encourage the mother to put her baby’s needs before her own.

According to Sarah Buckley, M.D.²:

There are more than three hundred known bodily effects of prolactin, including induction of maternal behavior, increase in appetite and food intake, suppression of fertility, stimulation of motor and grooming activity, reduction of the stress response, stimulation of oxytocin secretion and opioid activity, alteration of the sleep-wake cycle and increase in REM sleep, reduction of body temperature, and pain relief. Prolactin, along with growth hormone, is one of the hormones of growth and lactation and as such has a crucial influence in the development and function of the immune system.

And those are just the functions we know about!

Catecholamines (CA)

These are the “fight or flight” hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). They’re produced in response to hunger, fear and cold as well as excitement.

During labor, maternal CA levels gradually rise, peaking right before transition (the contractions which finish dilating the cervix in the first stage of labor).

This tells us the stress hormones are an important part of a healthy birth. However, if a woman’s epinephrine levels are too high (reflecting activation of her “fight or flight” response) early in labor, uterine contractions will be inhibited and labor will be slowed or even stopped completely.

High levels of CA can stimulate uterine contractions, which contribute to what Michel Odent calls the “Fetus Ejection Reflex“. According to Odent this reflex occurs at transition and almost always follows an undisturbed birth, probably because CA levels must be low early in labor for it to happen optimally.

On the other hand, high levels of CA too early in labor (which would be triggered by activation of the woman’s “fight or flight” system in response to fear or perceived danger) have been shown to inhibit uterine contractions.

This is yet another example of the exquisite regulation of hormones by the body and the danger of interfering with this natural process. CA levels must be just right at all stages for an undisturbed birth. If the mother is afraid or feels she is threatened or in danger early on, labor will be inhibited. I suspect this happens fairly often in the hospital setting. On the other hand, if the natural increase of CA levels that should occur later in labor is blocked (by painkillers or other drugs), then the fetal ejection reflex will not be stimulated and delivery may be more difficult.

Now that we have a better understanding of the hormones involved in birth, we can move on to exploring how modern medical interventions disrupt the natural regulation of these hormones and interfere with “undisturbed birth”.

Articles in this series:

• Natural childbirth I: is homebirth more dangerous than hospital birth?
• Natural childbirth IIa: is ultrasound necessary and effective during pregnancy?
• Natural childbirth IIb: ultrasound not as safe as commonly thought
• Natural childbirth III: why undisturbed birth?
• Natural childbirth IV: the hormones of birth
• Natural childbirth V: epidural side effects and risks
• Natural childbirth VI: Pitocin side effects and risks
• Natural childbirth VII: Cesarean risks and complications

Although widely promoted as a health food, hundreds of studies link modern processed soy to malnutrition, digestive problems, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, immune system breakdown, and even heart disease and cancer. How could soy be linked to all this disease? Because the soybean contains many naturally occurring toxins. All legumes contain toxins but the problem with soy is that the toxins are found in very high levels and are resistant to the traditional ways of getting rid of them.

Long, slow fermentation (as in the traditional production of miso, tempeh and soy sauce) gets rid of the phytic acid and other digestive inhibitors but not the phytoestrogens in soy.

Myths About Isoflavones

One of the most common myths is that soy estrogens (isoflavones) are beneficial for your health. Isoflavones are the estrogen-like compounds occurring naturally in soy foods. They act as the plant’s natural pesticides, causing insects to become sterile. Research has shown that isoflavones can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. As little as 38 mg isoflavones per day (less than the amount found in 1 cup of soy milk) can result in hypothyroidism with symptoms of lethargy, constipation, weight gain and fatigue. The isoflavones in soy have been shown to cause reproductive problems, infertility, thyroid disease and liver disease in mice, rats, cheetahs, sturgeon, quail, sheep, pigs and marmoset monkeys.

Traditional Versus Modern Soy Foods

It is important to distinguish between traditional and modern soy foods. In Asia, traditional soy foods were consumed in small amounts, usually as a fermented condiment. Traditional fermented soy foods include miso, soy sauce, tempeh and natto. Tofu was prepared by a precipitation process that gets rid of some of the anti-nutrients, and tofu was often then fermented. Tofu was usually consumed in small amounts in fish broth, which provided lots of compensating minerals and compounds that support thyroid function.

Soymilk underwent a very long preparation process to get rid of anti-nutrients and it was consumed with shrimp or egg yolk, ingredients that helped compensate for the many anti-nutrients that remained. Mostly a food for the elderly, it was sometimes given to nursing mothers but never to growing children.

Problems with Soy Protein Isolate

Modern soy foods are very different. Most are made with soy protein isolate (SPI), which is a protein-rich powder extracted by an industrial process from the waste product of soy oil manufacturing. It is the industry’s way of making a profit on a waste product. The industry spent over 30 years and billions of dollars developing SPI.

Soy Protein Isolate is produced at very high temperatures and pressures. This processing does get rid of some of the anti-nutrients in soybeans, but unfortunately many of the proteins are denatured in the process, including lysine. That is why growing animals fed soy must be given a lysine supplement. In feeding studies, SPI caused many deficiencies in rats. That soy causes deficiencies in B12 and zinc is widely recognized; but the range of deficiencies was surprising.

Although SPI is added to many foods, it was never granted GRAS status, meaning “Generally Recognized as Safe”. The FDA only granted GRAS status to SPI for use as a binder in cardboard boxes. During the processing of soy, many additional toxins are formed, including nitrates (which are carcinogens) and a toxin called lysinoalanine. It was concerns about lysinoalanine in SPI that led the FDA to deny GRAS status for SPI as a food additive.

In spite of all these problems, SPI is the basic ingredient of soy infant formula and the FDA even allows a health claim for foods containing 6.25 grams SPI per serving.

The Dangers of Soy Infant Formula

Infants on soy formula can take in dangerously high levels of soy isoflavones. On a body weight basis, this can mean ten times the level that can cause thyroid suppression in adults after three months, and eight times the level that can cause hormonal changes in adults after just one month.

According to a Swiss report adult women consuming 100 mg isoflavones (about 2 cups of soy milk, or 1 cup of cooked mature soybeans) provide the estrogenic equivalent of a contraceptive pill.

This means for a baby that weighs 6 kg (or just over 13 pounds), 10 mg provides the estrogenic equivalent of a contraceptive pill. Thus, the average amount of soy-based formula taken in by a child provides the estrogenic equivalent of at least four birth control pills. Because babies are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of dietary estrogens, the effects could actually be much greater than that of four birth control pills.

Hence the statement, “Babies on soy formula receive the estrogenic equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day.”

Homemade Baby Formula

For adopted infants, or as a solution for mothers who aren’t physically able to breastfeed or who aren’t able to produce enough milk, we’d like parents to know that there are nutrient dense, homemade Baby Formula Recipes in the book Nourishing Traditions which have been used with great success by parents all over the world since 1995!