Quick question about Oxytocin

[CoconutCutie]

Ok so I know its our natural hormone. I know it helps with natural contractions. But I was wondering if purely having an orgasm will release it into your system or is there something more you need to do? And what are ways to release it into your system to help along your contrax/labor?

Ive been looking it up but not finding the info Im looking for.

thanks

[kltroy]

Yes having an orgasm will release some, but not enough to sustain labor. Nipple stimulation would be the main way to do this, since nursing also releases oxytocin. You can do this either manually or, if you want to get hardcore about it, with a breast pump. I would probably just do manually unless you're in mid/late labor and then it stalls. If you're trying to get labor going... well, if your body isn't sustaining ctx on its own, you're not really in labor, so why fight it?

[CoconutCutie]

Sounds good!! Thanks kltroy youve been a great resourse Thanks so much for anwsering my questions. Just wanting to be prepared for when the time comes

[prancie]

Remember that oxytocin, while released during an orgasm, also needs to be released in order to have an orgasm. At the moment of orgasm adrenaline is also released. Labor is really like one big orgasm, if things are going well you are releasing oxytocin all the time and when you reach the fetal ejection point you will release a flood of adrenaline as well. This is why women just before the moment of birth will stand up or become agitated or start shaking.

So, in order to have a labor "orgasm" you have to have similar conditions as having an orgasm otherwise. You need to feel safe, warm, unobserved and the lights should be kept to a minimum. Some women have an easier time in different conditions because their inhibition levels are lower than some. Feeding your need to have privacy will increase your hormone levels and increase your chances of a safe birth. So, even if it seems totally unreasonable, make sure you feel comfortable and uninhibited. You are trying to have an orgasm in the grand sense. And while birth can be pleasurable for some women, I am not using orgasm in that sense, I am referring to the hormones only.

[CoconutCutie]

Sounds good prancie Thanks for that info.