The Role of Oxytocin in Parturition - Essay Example

Balanced hormonal activity is not only crucial for maintaining pregnancy but also affects labor and post-labor changes in the maternal body. The hormone oxytocin plays a very important role during parturition and lactation. The role played by the hormone during birth is still controversial. Mammalian studies suggest that “neurohypophysial oxytocin plays a role in the expulsive phase” (Blanks & Thornton, 2003) and also initiates parturition. Throughout pregnancy, progesterone plays an important role in sustaining it; however, at the end of pregnancy, maternal estrogen rises simultaneously along with progesterone level.

Estrogen induces oxytocin receptors in the uterine musculature while progesterone softens the cervix. Signals from the moving fetus signal the greater secretion of oxytocin which initiates positive feedback by increasing uterine contractions (Despopoulos & Silbernagl, 2003, p 303). Thus oxytocin causes rhythmic contractions of the strong uterine muscles and helps in easy birth of birth and prevents chances of post-partum hemorrhage (Odent, 1998. Milk production after the birth of the child is initiated by another hormone called prolactin.

Post-parturition, estrogen and progesterone levels fall; because of this, the inhibitory action of these hormones on prolactin is removed.