3 ways circadian health can contribute to the altered states of transcendental childbirth
The circadian science of psychedelic states in birth
Healthy mom, healthy baby. That is currently the “gold standard” of most maternity care. However, human needs and human capabilities go much, much higher.
Childbirth is a right of passage—but how is the ceremony experienced? Today, I’d like to explore the psychedelic experiences of labor with you.
If you have stories of your own, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
What makes birth psychedelic?
We cannot ever communicate every aspect on our internal experience to another, and that makes this line of inquiry difficult.
However, in digging through the research, I’ve been able to find 3 particular hormones most people overlook when it comes to facilitating or manifesting a powerful (psychedelic) birth experience that I’ll be sharing about today: Serotonin, Endocannabinoids, and Melatonin. In a future post, I’ll be digging into endorphins, dopamine, and neurotransmitters.
Serotonin in labor
From research in Hawaii:
It has frequently been reported that either low levels of hallucinogens or prolonged hyperventilation cause the appearance of many labor and delivery associated symptoms in humans and animals. These include both rhythmic body thrusting and head pushing, breath-holds, first-breath associated production of copious chords of mucous, neonate type of squalling, and suckling (adult rats). They also produce in adults of either sex a supine posturing with knee-spreading and pelvic movements which can be so vigorous and prolonged as to lead to panting from exertion. This may be followed by a transcendent mental state which may be associated with the uncommon ecstatic acceptance and bonding of the birth pair at delivery. As an added complication, marked (as great as ten fold) individual and perhaps racial differences exist in sensitivity to both antidepressants and hallucinogens. An earlier proposal along some of these lines was made to your committee by a colleague, now retired from UH and living on the mainland. As you will recall, he proposed to isolate and identify a putative endogenous hallucinogen, which he erroneously proposed to exist and be produced during labor and delivery. As predicted, he failed to find the endogenous hallucinogen. This is because stress elevated endogenous serotonin release at the 5-HT2a receptor is sufficient to account for all these effects without requiring an additional endogenous hallucinogen.
Dr. Bruce E. Morton, Biochemistry and Biophysics, 1994
I find two things especially interesting about the above passage:
Researchers have tried, and failed, to find a hallucinogenic substance produced by the body in labor
The circadian hormone serotonin is highlighted as being able to produce the hallucinogenic-type experiences and behaviors seen in labor
Endocannabinoids in labor
This was written in 4 years before it was discovered that massive endocannabinoid activation also happens at the onset of labor1.
The endocannabinoid anandamide, the “bliss molecule” responsible for the feelings of calm associated with cannabis, is also created by women’s bodies, and like serotonin, is usually released in a circadian pattern. However, in labor (and miscarriage, it turns out), this molecule is released in large amounts.
Melatonin in labor
And as a third piece to this puzzle, the circadian hormone melatonin—which, coincidentally, or more likely, by design, is made in the night from daytime serotonin—acts not only in synergy with oxytocin to start labor and strengthen contractions2, but also to mediate pain in the peripheral and central nervous system3.
So here we have 3 molecules, all under circadian regulation, that can help facilitate physiological labor and the natural trance state that leads to successful and transformative childbirth.
How many of your human needs were met in labor?
I’ve had this post in mind ever since it was brought to mind that although the concept of a hierarchy of needs is widely accepted, most aren’t yet thinking about birth in that way.
The paradigm most OB’s, midwives and other birth professionals are trained within is built upon a scaffolding of vocabulary around making birth safer. Safety, however, is only one level up on the pyramid.
Thus, while I do love helping women and families discover the simple ways they can boost their health and safety in the birthing year, that’s just the base of what these circadian lifestyle choices can do.
When the circadian rhythm is stable and strong leading up to childbirth, it can support us all the way to the very top of the hierarchy of needs pyramid in labor!
Kozakiewicz, M. L., Grotegut, C. A., & Howlett, A. C. (2021). Endocannabinoid System in Pregnancy Maintenance and Labor: A Mini-Review. Frontiers in endocrinology, 12, 699951. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.699951
McCarthy, R., Jungheim, E. S., Fay, J. C., Bates, K., Herzog, E. D., & England, S. K. (2019). Riding the Rhythm of Melatonin Through Pregnancy to Deliver on Time. Frontiers in endocrinology, 10, 616. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00616
Xie, S., Fan, W., He, H., & Huang, F. (2020). Role of Melatonin in the Regulation of Pain. Journal of pain research, 13, 331–343. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S228577