Oxytocin is known as the hormone of love. But did you know that it also has a very important role to play in the birth process?

Not only is oxytocin important for bonding with your new baby, it is also the hormone that kicks off the entire chain of events that leads to you holding your baby!

Oxytocin has many positive effects in the mother’s brain during labour, and prepares her for motherhood. Oxytocin reduces anxiety, stress and pain in labour and switches on brain pleasure and reward centres, making the new mother relaxed and happy as she meets her baby for the first time.

And there is an added bonus: new dads can experience that oxytocin high too! Did you know that smelling the top of your baby’s head releases oxytocin in your brain and causes you to fall in love with and bond with your baby? This works for siblings too! So if you have an older child or toddler who is unsure of the new baby, let them cuddle!