Are pets the ultimate birth partner?

Could your pet help you have a smooth labour?

Science says yes! Kinda….

How’s that now?

Let’s start by briefly talking about a wonderful hormone called Oxytocin.

Oxytocin is the love hormone, it’s responsible for all the times we felt all warm and fuzzy inside.

Oxytocin is also the hormone that fuels labour, it powers your surges and brings your baby to you.

When in labour we need high levels of oxytocin and low levels of cortisol… and that’s where you pet comes in to help you!

Pets & oxytocin

A numbers of studies looking at the interaction between dogs and humans, have shown a substantial increase in oxytocin when there was some sort of cuddling or stroking going on.

Pets & labour

This means that you should probably re-consider your plan to ship your pet elsewhere if you are planning on having your baby at home.

In early labour, spending some quality time with your pet could help with labour progression as it will increase your production of Oxytocin.

In active labour, stroking or cuddling  your pet in-between surges can help keep your adrenaline low and, once again, increase your production of the little love particles that will bring your baby to you!

What do you think? Could your pet help you in labour or would they rather be napping elsewhere?

It’s important to note that the reason studies looked at dogs particularly is because of dog’s ability to form strong connections with humans – and oxytocin plays a huge part in that connection forming.

You can read more about the studies and findings here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6826447/