The hormone oxytocin also known as the “love hormone” has captured the interest of research psychiatrists.  According to Rebecca Turner PhD, UCSF adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and lead author of a study conducted in 1999 found that the study indicated “oxytocin may be mediating emotional experience in close relationships.”

 The study was based on previous knowledge of the important role oxytocin plays in the reproductive life of mammals.  In humans, oxytocin stimulates milk ejection during lactation and uterine contractions during birth, and is released during sexual orgasm in both men and women.

Researchers discovered that the oxytocin levels varied between women who were tense and who reported distress and anxiety in their relationships and women who were relaxed and in a positive relationship. 

Women whose oxytocin levels rose in response to a relaxing massage and remembering a positive relationship reported having little difficulty setting appropriate boundaries and did not try very hard to please others.  Women who were tense had much lower oxytocin levels.

These findings have great significance for child birth education.  HypnoBirthing ® focuses on teaching the mother to relax by the use of self hypnosis.  She is encouraged to practice daily by listening to the Rainbow Relaxation CD and to work with her partner to achieve full relaxation.  The daily practice serves at least two important functions in that it strengthens the relationship between the partners and the unborn baby and the resulting relaxation increases the mother’s oxytocin level.  HypnoBirthing also encourages parents to let nature take its’ course and to question well meaning health care professionals who might offer interventions because their training suggests they must do “something.”

Oxytocin plays an important role when it becomes time to birth the baby.  The actual trigger for the beginning of labor is not entirely known, but it is believed that a hormone secreted from within the baby’s body triggers oxytocin within the mother’s body.  Oxytocin is the natural labor initiating hormone and the miracle unfolds.

Nature’s design for perpetuation of humanity is quite elegant.  As previously mentioned sexual orgasm releases oxytocin in both partners, high levels of oxytocin promote close relationships, and there is a possibility that orgasm might result in a pregnancy.  A hormone within the baby’s body triggers release of oxytocin in the mother thereby initiating the birth.  Oxytocin facilitates the emotional bond between mother and child, it also stimulates milk production.  Furthermore oxytocin stimulates the mother to nurture her child and it might help prevent depression in the mother thereby allowing her to function free of impediments.