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Sunday, June 17, 2012
Hormones in labour
A little infographic I put together about hormones and labour.
This is fantastic. You should make it into a poster, sell it on cafepress or something and e-mail me when you do so I can buy it. In the meantime, would you mind if I shared it with my class tonight?
Can you clarify the point under pitocin that says that it reduces oxytocin? Oxytocin and pitocin are the same chemical, and it is a positive feedback cycle hormonally meaning that increase of either should actually increase oxytocin in the pituitary right?
You are talking about the fergusson reflex whereby contractions cause a nerve stimulus, which stimulates the hypothalamus to produce more oxytocin.
Oxytocin and pitocin are not the same. Pitocin is the synthetic analogue for Oxytocin and is sourced from other mammals(usually cow). It is administered intravenously. Oxytocin is produced in the maternal posterior pituitary, hypothalamus and the foetus. When we administer pitocin intravenously it is in massively high doses and instead of coming in natural pulses it is a continuous stream. It is also not able to cross the blood brain barrier. So while it may increase the 'volume' and pace of contractions it is not able to facilitate bonding which is what oxytocin in the brain does. So when your blood is saturated with synthetic 'oxytocin' contractions can become painful, stressful and exhausting - all of which inhibit production of oxytocin in the brain - which is the important oxytocin for a pain free easy birth.
Also worthy of note. High doses of pitocin can badly affect the foetus via oxytocin-induced desensitization of the oxytocin receptors. Which can affect your baby's behaviour and brain health down the line.
You are talking about the fergusson reflex whereby contractions cause a nerve stimulus, which stimulates the hypothalamus to produce more oxytocin.
Oxytocin and pitocin are not the same. Pitocin is the synthetic analogue for Oxytocin and is sourced from other mammals(usually cow). It is administered intravenously. Oxytocin is produced in the maternal posterior pituitary, hypothalamus and the foetus. When we administer pitocin intravenously it is in massively high doses and instead of coming in natural pulses it is a continuous stream. It is also not able to cross the blood brain barrier. So while it may increase the 'volume' and pace of contractions it is not able to facilitate bonding which is what oxytocin in the brain does. So when your blood is saturated with synthetic 'oxytocin' contractions can become painful, stressful and exhausting - all of which inhibit production of oxytocin in the brain - which is the important oxytocin for a pain free easy birth.
Also worthy of note. High doses of pitocin can badly affect the foetus via oxytocin-induced desensitization of the oxytocin receptors. Which can affect your baby's behaviour and brain health down the line.
Thank you for this fabulous information about difference oxytocin and synthetic oxytocin. !Ive read so much about this but your response is so much more succinct and understandable and i feel I can share this more easily with the parents I work with (if thats OK??). And I agree, that would be a great poster. Id buy a few! Kind regards, Emma
This is fantastic. You should make it into a poster, sell it on cafepress or something and e-mail me when you do so I can buy it. In the meantime, would you mind if I shared it with my class tonight?
ReplyDeleteMost definitely share!!
ReplyDeleteCan you clarify the point under pitocin that says that it reduces oxytocin? Oxytocin and pitocin are the same chemical, and it is a positive feedback cycle hormonally meaning that increase of either should actually increase oxytocin in the pituitary right?
ReplyDeleteYou are talking about the fergusson reflex whereby contractions cause a nerve stimulus, which stimulates the hypothalamus to produce more oxytocin.
ReplyDeleteOxytocin and pitocin are not the same. Pitocin is the synthetic analogue for Oxytocin and is sourced from other mammals(usually cow). It is administered intravenously. Oxytocin is produced in the maternal posterior pituitary, hypothalamus and the foetus. When we administer pitocin intravenously it is in massively high doses and instead of coming in natural pulses it is a continuous stream. It is also not able to cross the blood brain barrier. So while it may increase the 'volume' and pace of contractions it is not able to facilitate bonding which is what oxytocin in the brain does. So when your blood is saturated with synthetic 'oxytocin' contractions can become painful, stressful and exhausting - all of which inhibit production of oxytocin in the brain - which is the important oxytocin for a pain free easy birth.
Also worthy of note. High doses of pitocin can badly affect the foetus via oxytocin-induced desensitization of the oxytocin receptors. Which can affect your baby's behaviour and brain health down the line.
You are talking about the fergusson reflex whereby contractions cause a nerve stimulus, which stimulates the hypothalamus to produce more oxytocin.
ReplyDeleteOxytocin and pitocin are not the same. Pitocin is the synthetic analogue for Oxytocin and is sourced from other mammals(usually cow). It is administered intravenously. Oxytocin is produced in the maternal posterior pituitary, hypothalamus and the foetus. When we administer pitocin intravenously it is in massively high doses and instead of coming in natural pulses it is a continuous stream. It is also not able to cross the blood brain barrier. So while it may increase the 'volume' and pace of contractions it is not able to facilitate bonding which is what oxytocin in the brain does. So when your blood is saturated with synthetic 'oxytocin' contractions can become painful, stressful and exhausting - all of which inhibit production of oxytocin in the brain - which is the important oxytocin for a pain free easy birth.
Also worthy of note. High doses of pitocin can badly affect the foetus via oxytocin-induced desensitization of the oxytocin receptors. Which can affect your baby's behaviour and brain health down the line.
Thank you for this fabulous information about difference oxytocin and synthetic oxytocin. !Ive read so much about this but your response is so much more succinct and understandable and i feel I can share this more easily with the parents I work with (if thats OK??). And I agree, that would be a great poster. Id buy a few! Kind regards, Emma
ReplyDeleteMay I add your infographic with credit into a blog post of mine please?
ReplyDelete