Melatonin’s role in labor progress
In February of last year, I heard about a study that reaffirms what our mammal cousins have known instinctively for thousands of years… birth should happen in a dark, comfortable place. It also helps explain why most women go into labor in the middle of the night. And why so many labors slow down or stall in a hospital setting.
The study’s abstract says this in conclusion: “[Melatonin] synergizes with [oxytocin] to promote [uterine smooth muscle] contractions and to facilitate gap junction activity [in a controlled testing environment]. Such a synergy in [a living human] would promote coordinated and forceful contractions of the late term pregnant uterus necessary for [childbirth]” (Sharkey, Puttaramu, Word and Olcese, “Melatonin Synergizes with Oxytocin to Enhance Contractility of Human Myometrial Smooth Muscle Cells“).
I was absolutely stoked and fascinated when I read this. It makes complete sense! Melatonin is the hormone responsible for inducing sleep. Our bodies increase production of melatonin in darkness, and most humans’ melatonin levels peak in the wee hours of the morning. Daylight and artificial light reduce melatonin production.
In my excited melatonin frenzy, I did some quick internet browsing and discovered that meditation increases melatonin production. Some of the most effective coping strategies for labor are akin to meditation–progressive relaxation, hypnobirthing, visualization, breathing techniques–so it makes sense why they’re so helpful.
So… let’s just be logical here… if melatonin and oxytocin synergize to produce labor contractions, wouldn’t it make sense to do everything possible to keep melatonin levels high during childbirth?
And, let’s just be logical again… how well do you think a woman can “meditate” or use coping techniques when she’s…
1) In a sterile, cold, artificially bright, unfamiliar setting?
2) Having an IV inserted, being given forms to sign, or being asked irritating questions about her social security number mid-contraction?
3) Being relentlessly interrupted by hospital staff coming in and out, sticking their fingers inside of her?
Unfortunately, just about everything about a hospital makes it one of the worst possible places to facilitate childbirth progress. If you really want to facilitate the birth process, take a lesson from your pet cat. Turn off the lights! Get to a comfortable place. Do whatever you can to relax and get into a sleep-like meditative state. Let your body do what it already knows how to do. If/When it’s time to leave your dark/comfortable nest, take along some sunglasses and someone who can protect your birthing space from unnecessary distractions and interruptions. Keep those melatonin levels high!
I love it when science discovers that nature was right all along.
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[...] Turn off/down the lights. [...]
This is fascinating to me for so many reasons. All of my babies were born during the night. I have always been a night owl… can there really be something good that comes from that? LOL. If many women birth at night maybe it will be a benefit for me as an aspiring midwife. Oh, I hope so!
Mayme -
I’m a midwife/nightowl. I’ve found it to be very helpful ;)
[...] my understanding that darkness helps keep the rational brain off. It also promotes the release of melatonin which synergizes with oxytocin to make labor progress more [...]
[...] blogged in the past about melatonin’s role in labor progress. Research indicates that melatonin synergizes with oxytocin to produce forceful uterine [...]
We really have no clue about the intricacies of the hormone web involved in pregnancy and birth — science barely has a handle on the hormones involved in menstruation! It seems plausible that melatonin would be involved in one way or another — happily though my last labor began upon rising in the morning.
[...] Turn the lights off (or keep the lighting as low as possible) while you’re in labor. Darkness facilitates the release of melatonin which can facilitate the labor process. See: Melatonin’s role in labor progress. [...]
I have attended over 600 births and I can say that 75% of my ladies call me between the hours of 1 – 4 am. So go to bed early when nearing your due date. Rest before the big event is SO important.
My son was born at 4:01 a.m. My midwife said that many of her patients end up birthing at night. This really does make sense. I wonder if this baby will come at night as well.
WOW! This makes sooooo much sense! Thanks for the great post :)
Fabulous article, thanks for sharing!
My water broke at 4:15 in the morning. I had my eyes closed until 10:45 when my baby was born. Now I understand better why I had such a easy drug free delivery. No light=oxitocine :). The hypnobirthing classes where the best thing I spent money on during my pregnancy!!