michel odent, OB from France
http://www.birthpsychology.com/violence/odent1.html
Adrenaline--Eye-to-eye contact
Another aspect common to the different episodes of sexual life is that
they are inhibited by the hormones of the adrenaline family--the
hormones released when mammals are frightened or cold. These are the
emergency hormones which give us the energy to protect ourselves by
fighting or running away. If a female mammal is threatened by a
predator while she is in labor, the release of adrenaline tends to stop
the birth process, postponing it in order to give the mother the energy
to fight or to escape. Farmers know that it is impossible to milk a
frightened cow.
The effects of adrenaline secretion are more complex during the birth
process. During the very last contractions preceding birth, both a
mother and her baby have a peak release of adrenaline hormones. One of
the effects of this sudden adrenaline release is that the mother is
alert when her baby is born. It is an advantage among mammals to have
enough energy to protect the newborn baby. Another effect of this
adrenaline release by the fetus is that the baby is alert at birth,
with wide-open eyes and dilated pupils. Mothers are fascinated by the
gaze of their newborn babies. It seems that, for humans, this eye-to-
eye contact is an important feature of the beginning of the mother-baby
relationship. Let us stress that even the hormones of the adrenaline
family--often seen as the hormones of aggression--have a specific role
to play in the interaction between mother and baby in the hour
following birth.
Not only are the same hormones involved in the different episodes of
sexual life, but the same patters, the same sort of scenarios are
reproduced. The final phase is always an "ejection reflex" and terms
such as "sperm ejection reflex," "fetus ejection reflex," and "milk
ejection reflex" suggest this likeness. I have adopted the term "fetus
ejection reflex" (which had previously been used to refer to non-human
mammals) to refer to the very last contractions before the birth of
humans when the birth process has been undisturbed and unguided. During
a typical "fetus ejection reflex," women have a tendency to be upright,
have a need to grasp something or someone, and are full of energy. Some
women seem to be euphoric, others seem to be angry, while others
express a transitory fear. All of these behaviors are compatible with a
sudden release of adrenaline. They are associated with two or three
strong contractions.6 This reflex is almost unknown in hospital
delivery rooms, and it is seldom seen even at home births if another
person takes on the role of "coach," "guide," "helper," "support
person," or "observer.">
Adrenaline--Eye-to-eye contact
Another aspect common to the different episodes of sexual life is that
they are inhibited by the hormones of the adrenaline family--the
hormones released when mammals are frightened or cold. These are the
emergency hormones which give us the energy to protect ourselves by
fighting or running away. If a female mammal is threatened by a
predator while she is in labor, the release of adrenaline tends to stop
the birth process, postponing it in order to give the mother the energy
to fight or to escape. Farmers know that it is impossible to milk a
frightened cow.
The effects of adrenaline secretion are more complex during the birth
process. During the very last contractions preceding birth, both a
mother and her baby have a peak release of adrenaline hormones. One of
the effects of this sudden adrenaline release is that the mother is
alert when her baby is born. It is an advantage among mammals to have
enough energy to protect the newborn baby. Another effect of this
adrenaline release by the fetus is that the baby is alert at birth,
with wide-open eyes and dilated pupils. Mothers are fascinated by the
gaze of their newborn babies. It seems that, for humans, this eye-to-
eye contact is an important feature of the beginning of the mother-baby
relationship. Let us stress that even the hormones of the adrenaline
family--often seen as the hormones of aggression--have a specific role
to play in the interaction between mother and baby in the hour
following birth.
Not only are the same hormones involved in the different episodes of
sexual life, but the same patters, the same sort of scenarios are
reproduced. The final phase is always an "ejection reflex" and terms
such as "sperm ejection reflex," "fetus ejection reflex," and "milk
ejection reflex" suggest this likeness. I have adopted the term "fetus
ejection reflex" (which had previously been used to refer to non-human
mammals) to refer to the very last contractions before the birth of
humans when the birth process has been undisturbed and unguided. During
a typical "fetus ejection reflex," women have a tendency to be upright,
have a need to grasp something or someone, and are full of energy. Some
women seem to be euphoric, others seem to be angry, while others
express a transitory fear. All of these behaviors are compatible with a
sudden release of adrenaline. They are associated with two or three
strong contractions.6 This reflex is almost unknown in hospital
delivery rooms, and it is seldom seen even at home births if another
person takes on the role of "coach," "guide," "helper," "support
person," or "observer.">