Birth begins in our mind and there we can prepare well for it. However, it actually takes place in our body. It is our body that gives birth to our child and our hormones play a huge role in this physical act. They promote or hinder birth.
Did you know? We have an autonomic nervous system that responds to our environment and sensations to ensure our survival.
“FIGHT OR FLIGHT” MODE
If we feel threatened, if we get scared, our body goes into “fight or flight” mode. This state shuts down all the organs we don’t need for fleeing or fighting (like our digestive tract or, during birth, our uterus), but supplies blood to and feeds those we do need (heart, lungs, arms, legs, etc.). Our body is flooded with stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which also make us particularly sensitive to pain, so we can protect ourselves well.
“REST AND DIGEST” MODE
In a relaxed state our body performs tasks such as digestion or even the blood flow to our uterus during birth. In the relaxed state, our body is flooded with feel-good hormones like oxytocin and endorphins. Oxytocin ensures that our uterus triggers contractions that can bring our child into the world in the first place. In themselves, muscle contractions are not painful, especially when the muscle tissue has a good blood supply and is soft. Endorphins act like the body’s own painkillers, lowering our perception of pain. So for birth, we want to be in this relaxed state so that our birth is smoother and more comfortable.
THE “HORMONE-SEESAW” DURING BIRTH
Imagine a seesaw, your hormone seesaw. The ideal for birth is to keep the happy hormones up, which causes the stress hormones to go down. Remember:
The more relaxed and happy we are, the easier and more pleasant the birth.
In the Birth Flow Course you’ll learn how to keep the birth-enhancing hormones up. Among other things, you learn how to bring yourself into a deeply relaxed state to your inner safe place, where you feel comfortable and secured. You will learn to breathe deeply and calmly into your belly and exhale for a long time to consciously bring your body down and relax. Through these and other techniques you will gain self-empowerment and also self-responsibility for your birth. The more often you practice, the easier it will be to implement during birth. 
I’m Dora, mom and certified HypnoBirthing Coach based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I give lessons here and online. 
For more information, book a free conversation with me here. I’m happy to accompany you and prepare you for a peaceful birth. You’ve got this! 
Love,
Dora 
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