Pro Tip: Labor in the Dark

​I am overdue for sharing another Pro Tip!

The days are short this time of year. And this abundance of darkness reminds me of a great tip to share with you all. There are some great benefits to laboring in the dark.
Melatonin. The first of these is melatonin. It has been discovered that myometrial tissue, the muscle in the uterus, is responsive to the presense of melatonin. And studies have shown that the majority of labor occurs at night. We’ve also found that pregnant women, especially those near term have increased levels of melatonin present. Read more specifics about the role of melatonin in labor and birth here and here. Oh! And watch a great video from Michel Odent on the same topic!
Privacy. The second is privacy. A sense of privacy is really important to laboring women. Birth is an intimate event.  Feeling watched can come with a feeling of pressure to perform or act in a certain way and can negatively impact the hormones her body produces and that are needed for labor to progress. Feeling disturbed or interrupted or even exposed or vulnerable can cause stress hormones to rise and even shut down or significantly slow labor. Laboring in the dark is an easy way to gain a sense of privacy even if you are not alone. Read more about the importance of privacy in labor here and here.
 
Wow! The chemistry of our bodies is pretty cool.
 
Don’t keep this tip to yourself, friends! Here is a graphic a created to share on your own social media and let others in our secret of the benefits to laboring in the dark!