The 4 Hormones That Run the Show on Birth Day (And How to Work With Them, Not Against Them)

 When it comes to labor and birth, most people focus on the physical: contractions, dilation, pushing. But the truth is, birth is a full-body hormonal event. Your uterus might be doing the work, but it’s your hormones that are running the show.

Understanding the key hormones involved in birth—oxytocin, endorphins, adrenaline, and prolactin—is foundational to preparing for a smooth, empowered labor. This isn’t fluffy feel-good stuff. It’s biology. And the more you understand it, the better you can support your body and stack the odds in your favor for the birth experience you want.

Let’s break down the four hormones that matter most, how to support them, and what can disrupt them.

Oxytocin: The Love Hormone

Oxytocin is the driving force behind labor. It’s responsible for contractions, cervical dilation, and the warm, euphoric bonding feelings you get when your baby is born. It flows best when you feel safe, private, calm, and loved.

But it’s also incredibly sensitive. Bright lights, stressful conversations, and constant interruptions? Oxytocin shut down. This is one reason birth can slow or stall in clinical settings that aren’t optimized for physiological birth.

Boost Oxytocin By:

• Dim lighting or soft lamps

• Physical touch, cuddling, kissing, or massage

• Calm, quiet surroundings

• Privacy and minimal disruptions

Avoid Oxytocin Disruptors:

• Bright hospital lighting

• Frequent cervical checks or monitoring

• Fear, tension, and feeling observed

• Synthetic Pitocin (which mimics but doesn’t replicate oxytocin’s natural effects)

Endorphins: Nature’s Pain Relief

Endorphins are your body’s natural opioids. They increase as labor intensifies, helping you cope with the sensations of birth. When endorphins are flowing, women often describe being in a trance-like state, totally in the zone.

Boost Endorphins By:

• Moving rhythmically (rocking, swaying, walking)

• Deep breathing and low, open vocal sounds

• Hydrotherapy (warm bath or shower)

• Leaning into labor instead of fighting it

Avoid Endorphin Disruptors:

• Panic and fear

• Resistance to labor sensations

• High tension in your body or environment

• Constant disruption or confrontation with staff

When endorphins are suppressed, the pain of labor increases, which can trigger more fear and tension—and the cycle continues. Your job? Create an environment where your endorphins can work their magic.

Adrenaline: The Fight or Flight Hormone

Adrenaline isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, at the very end of labor (hello, pushing stage), a little adrenaline gives you the energy and alertness to get that baby out. But if it shows up too early? It can stall or completely stop labor.

Adrenaline spikes when your body perceives danger—real or imagined. That could be from feeling observed, being told your labor isn’t progressing fast enough, or just being in a stressful environment.

Keep Adrenaline Low By:

• Creating a calm, safe, quiet space

• Avoiding fear-based language or unnecessary urgency

• Staying loose and relaxed (tense body = danger signals)

• Choosing a support team that advocates for your peace

Prolactin: The Bonding & Breastfeeding Hormone

Prolactin kicks in after birth. It supports milk production, bonding, and that beautiful sense of love and fulfillment. It’s especially important if you plan to breastfeed.

Support Prolactin By:

• Immediate skin-to-skin with your baby

• Undisturbed golden hour

• Breastfeeding on demand (especially in the early days)

Avoid Prolactin Disruptors:

• Separation from baby after birth

• Delayed breastfeeding initiation

• Unnecessary interventions or stress

Hormones in Harmony = Smoother Birth

When these hormones are supported and allowed to flow, labor tends to unfold more smoothly. You feel more in control. Pain is more manageable. Your baby transitions more easily. You experience birth as a physiological process, not a medical emergency.

This is why your environment, your mindset, and your preparation matter so much!

Inside The Birth Prep Course, we dive deep into these hormones and everything else you need to know to support your body and take ownership of your birth. From understanding what triggers your stress response to learning exactly how to prep your birth space for hormonal harmony, it’s all covered.

Because you deserve to understand what your body is doing. You deserve to feel supported and in control. And you deserve to walk into your birth experience fully prepared to let those hormones do their thing.

👉 You can learn more and enroll in The Birth Prep Course HERE.

You've got this, momma 💖

XO - Taylor