DRUG-FREE PAIN CONTROL

DURING A NATURAL labour, free from fear and mistrust, you produce a cocktail of hormones that include prostaglandins, adrenaline, catecholamines, endorphins, oxytocin and cortisol. These hormones regulate uterine contractions and trigger emotions and responses.

However, some of these hormones (oxytocin and endorphins) can easily be blocked (by cortisol, catecholamines and adrenalin), which causes you to feel more discomfort than you need to.

They all have a role to play, and the timing of the release of these hormones is critical for a smooth labour process. Fear may trigger the adrenaline hormone to show up too soon, causing labour to stall and drawing it out.

But when you feel safe, nurtured and supported, oxytocin is released, which aids in blocking pain receptors and keeps the contractions going efficiently and effectively.

This is why non-medicated forms of pain relief ensure the