RT Journal Article
T1 Birth as a neuro-psycho-social event: an integrative model of maternal experiences and their relation to neurohormonal events during childbirth
A1 Villarmea Requejo, Stella Gabriela
A1 Olza, Ibone
A1 Uvnas-Moberg, Kerstin
A1 Ekström-Bergström, Anette
A1 Leahy-Warren, Patricia
A1 Karlsdottir, Sigfridur Inga
A1 Nieuwenhuijze, Marianne
A1 Hadjigeorgiou, Eleni
A1 Kazmierczak, Maria
A1 Spyridou, Andria
A1 Buckley, Sarah
A2 Public Library of Science, 
AB BackgroundPsychological aspects of labor and birth have received little attention within maternity care service planning or clinical practice. The aim of this paper is to propose a model demonstrating how neurohormonal processes, in particular oxytocinergic mechanisms, not only control the physiological aspects of labor and birth, but also contribute to the subjective psychological experiences of birth. In addition, sensory information from the uterus as well as the external environment might influence these neurohormonal processes thereby influencing the progress of labor and the experience of birth.MethodologyIn this new model of childbirth, we integrated the findings from two previous systematic reviews, one on maternal plasma levels of oxytocin during physiological childbirth and one meta-synthesis of women´s subjective experiences of physiological childbirth.FindingsThe neurobiological processes induced by the release of endogenous oxytocin during birth influence maternal behaviour and feelings in connection with birth in order to facilitate birth. The psychological experiences during birth may promote an optimal transition to motherhood. The spontaneous altered state of consciousness, that some women experience, may well be a hallmark of physiological childbirth in humans. The data also highlights the crucial role of one-to-one support during labor and birth. The physiological importance of social support to reduce labor stress and pain necessitates a reconsideration of many aspects of modern maternity care.ConclusionBy listening to women’s experiences and by observing women during childbirth, factors that contribute to an optimized process of labor, such as the mothers’ wellbeing and feelings of safety, may be identified. These observations support the integrative role of endogenous oxytocin in coordinating the neuroendocrine, psychological and physiological aspects of labor and birth, including oxytocin mediated. decrease of pain, fear and stress, support the need for midwifery one-to-one support in labour as well as the need for maternity care that optimizes the function of these neuroendocrine processes even when birth interventions are used. Women and their partners would benefit from understanding the crucial role that endogenous oxytocin plays in the psychological and neuroendocrinological process of labor.
PB Public Library of Science
SN 1932-6203
YR 2020
FD 2020-07
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/89015
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/89015
LA eng
NO Olza I, Uvnas-Moberg K, Ekstro ̈m- Bergstro ̈m A, Leahy-Warren P, Karlsdottir SI, Nieuwenhuijze M, et al. (2020) Birth as a neuro- psycho-social event: An integrative model of maternal experiences and their relation to neurohormonal events during childbirth. PLoS ONE 15(7): e0230992. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0230992
NO EU COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 26 abr 2025