Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing, an Essential Framework for Maternal–Newborn Nursing

Abstract

Knowledge of the hormonal physiology of childbearing is foundational for all who care for childbearing women and newborns. When promoted, supported, and protected, innate, hormonally driven processes optimize labor and birth, maternal and newborn transitions, breastfeeding, and mother-infant attachment. Many common perinatal interventions can interfere with or limit hormonal processes and have other unintended effects. Such interventions should only be used when clearly indicated. High-quality care incorporates salutogenic nursing practices that support physiologic processes and maternal-newborn health.

Why do women in the private sector have shorter pregnancies in Brazil? Left shift of gestational age, caesarean section and inversion of the expected disparity

“…Health professionals play a critical role in the preservation of physiological processes, using interventions only when it is really needed, knowing that such interventions can involve potential harm for the mothers, babies or both 11 .…”

“…Anticipating birth can increase vulnerability to hypoxia and to fetal distress during induction. Cesarean section performed before the spontaneous term inhibits the increase of catecholamines in newborns, and may be an explanation to the increased breathing diffi culty and to the differences in brain maturity of these babies 11 .…”

The Nurses’ Role in Providing Comfort During Childbirth Using Ambulation and Hydrotherapy

“…Physiologic hormones involved in labor and childbirth are specifically timed and released at key points when they will be the most beneficial to the process (Buckley, 2015;Sakala, Romano & Buckley, 2016). The release or suppression of these hormones is internally and externally affected, in a complex manner that is key to the mother's and baby's survival and success of the birthing process, in addition to the success of breastfeeding and maternal-infant attachment.…”

“…For example, when a mother is anxious, fearful or under great stress from her environment or the people surrounding her, this disrupts the normal hormonal physiology and may inhibit or slow down labor when her hormones are focused on preserving the woman or surviving the "threat". In contrast, if a mother feels safe, comfortable, and supported, she is free to focus completely on her labor and her hormones follow their natural course to promote labor (Sakala et al, 2016).…”

The Features of the Sympathoadrenal System Functional State in Women with Threatening of Pregnancy Prevention

“…Актуальною медико-соціальною та де-мографічною проблемою на сучасному етапі є пе-редчасні пологи. Частота цієї патології коливається у діапазоні 10-30% при відсутності тенденції до зниження [1,11]. Патогенез розвитку передчасного переривання вагітності є досить складним, за су-часними поглядами має мультифакторіальну при-роду [1,11,12], що спонукає фахівців на більш гли-боке його вивчення з метою визначення ефектив-ного комплексу лікувально-профілактичних заходів з попередження репродуктивних втрат та віддале-ного розвитку акушерських ускладнень.…”