The 5 Key Hormones That Drive Birth
At Birth & Bloom Physical Therapy, we believe that birth is not just physical — it’s profoundly hormonal. These powerful chemical messengers influence how labor starts, how it feels, how it progresses, and even how we remember it.
In this post, we’re highlighting five essential hormones that support physiological birth and how you can create conditions to work with them.
1. Oxytocin – The Labor & Love Hormone
What it does:
Oxytocin is the hormone that drives uterine contractions and supports bonding. It’s released when we feel safe, loved, and undisturbed (which is why it’s often called the “love hormone”). It also surges after birth, promoting skin-to-skin and breastfeeding.
How to support it:
Stay in a quiet, dim, private space during labor
Surround yourself with trusted support
Use soothing touch, massage, kissing, and eye contact
Minimize interruptions
We teach oxytocin-supportive positioning and relaxation techniques to help you feel confident and grounded as labor begins.
2. Endorphins – Your Natural Pain Relief
What they do:
Endorphins are your body’s natural opiates. As labor intensity increases, so do endorphin levels, helping you stay present, manage pain, and enter a rhythmic “birth zone”. They’re part of what helps birth feel powerful, not just painful.
How to support them:
Use breathwork, movement, water therapy, or affirmations
Stay upright and mobile
Lean into the intensity instead of resisting it
Avoid bright lights or overstimulation
Endorphins work in beautiful synergy with oxytocin. The more calm and connected you feel, the more your body can produce both.
3. Adrenaline – The Energy Spike (At the Right Time)
What it does:
Adrenaline is your fight-or-flight hormone. In early labor, too much adrenaline can stall progress by suppressing oxytocin. But near the end of labor, a surge of adrenaline gives you energy to push and meet your baby.
How to work with it:
Avoid fear-based messaging and high-stress environments
Use grounding techniques when labor starts (movement, breath, sound)
Trust your body — especially during transitions
We often talk to clients about preparing both the body and nervous system for birth. Reducing fear ahead of time is key to keeping adrenaline in check.
4. Melatonin – The Oxytocin Amplifier
What it does:
Melatonin, best known as the sleep hormone, also plays a surprising role in labor. It works in tandem with oxytocin to strengthen nighttime contractions. That’s one reason labor often starts (or intensifies) in the evening hours.
How to support it:
Reduce blue light exposure in late pregnancy and early labor
Use dim lights, candles, or twinkle lights in your birth space
Prioritize rest and circadian rhythm balance
Try a calming evening routine in your final weeks of pregnancy
5. Prostaglandins – The Cervical Softeners
What they do:
Prostaglandins help ripen the cervix, preparing it to dilate. Your body produces them near term, and they’re also found in semen, which is why intimacy can sometimes help bring on labor (when your body is ready).
How to support them:
Allow labor to begin spontaneously if possible
Stay active in late pregnancy (walking, yoga, pelvic floor-friendly movement)
Consider intimacy if it feels good and safe (we wouldn’t recommend this if your water has broken)
Nourish your body with anti-inflammatory foods
In our third trimester sessions, we focus on safe movement that encourages optimal baby position and gentle stimulation of prostaglandin release.
Hormonal Birth Support — With Clinical & Emotional Care
Birth is a deeply hormonal event. That’s why we approach prenatal care through the lens of physiology, nervous system balance, and informed choice. Whether you’re planning a home birth, a hospital birth, or something in between, understanding your hormones can help you prepare for a more empowered, connected experience.
Want support preparing for a smooth, aligned birth?
Book a session with us at Birth & Bloom Physical Therapy. We’ll help you feel strong, calm, and hormonally supported — inside and out.