Neuroendocrinology and birth 1: stress

The aim of this review is to offer a new perspective of the subtle and dynamic hormonal balance that may develop during physiological labour. We have drawn on current understanding of adaptation and, in particular, the role of the limbic cortex and the hypothalamus in fear responses. We have noted remarkable similarities between the changes and behaviour of the birthing woman and those of other sexual responses. We feel that this work adds weight to the body of evidence which suggests that creating a calm, safe environment for the birthing woman is vitally important (Odent, 1996). The human body is unimaginably complex. Physiology is the study of the overall logic and order of living organisms (Boyd and Noble, 1993), but a multl-disciplinary approach is now essential. It is relatively simple to describe the components of the systems but much more challenging and rewarding to understand how and why they work in the way they do. There is order among the complexity and an integrative approach that combines aspects of psychology and physiology can help our understanding of the interplay between mind and body in states of stress.