Hormonal Physiology

Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing: Evidence and Implications for Women, Babies, and Maternity Care 

This comprehensive report released by Childbirth Connection brings together the evidence on hormonal systems and their function from late pregnancy, through childbirth, and into the postpartum/newborn period. They conclude that the way that hormones act and interact has significant and important benefits for mother and baby which may extend beyond the postpartum period. Further, they conclude that many common obstetric interventions can disrupt those processes, not only reducing their benefits, but creating new problems in the process.

Read the full report online and download Recommendations to Promote, Support, and Protect Physiologic Childbearing at the bottom of the page. Visit Childbirth Connection to download fact sheets for care providers and policymakers, and booklets and infographics for mothers and providers.

Downloadable File: 

HormonalPhyiologyRecommendations.pdf