Oxytocin and the Impact of Medical Interventions During Birth

As midwives, you witness the extraordinary power of oxytocin every day, from the first contractions to that breathtaking moment when baby is placed on chest.

Recent studies by Dr. Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg illuminate how oxytocin pulses build gradually through pregnancy and intensify in labour, culminating in a profound surge at birth. These natural rhythms support not only uterine contractions but also a cascade of emotional, physiological, and bonding responses “oxytocin has many positive effects in the mother’s brain during labour… it reduces anxiety, stress and pain… making the new mother relaxed, and happy as she meets her baby for the first time.”

However, medical interventions can alter this natural harmony. Synthetic oxytocin infusion at low rates may mirror physiological levels, whereas high doses can raise maternal plasma oxytocin to 2–3 times higher than in spontaneous labour. This can disrupt contraction patterns, impact maternal autonomic regulation, and raise stress and pain.

Even more revealing: combined use of synthetic oxytocin and epidural analgesia is linked to diminished oxytocin release during breastfeeding—highlighting lasting effects beyond birth.

Why it matters to you, dear midwives:

• Promote physiological birth whenever possible, to honor oxytocin’s natural flow.
• Monitor synthetic oxytocin carefully, using the lowest effective dose.
• Support skin-to-skin contact promptly, helping restore oxytocin-driven bonding even after interventions.