Bringing Connection & Sensuality Back to Birth
By Anna Rademaker, IBCLC, LMT | Sacred Mama Denver
Oxytocin—the so‑called “love hormone”—is the secret ingredient of birthing magic. This powerful hormone is released during intimate moments—hugging a partner, cuddling a pet, shared smiles—and it’s also what drives uterine contractions during labor. When you feel love and connection, your body births better.
Why Oxytocin Matters
It triggers the natural contractions that move your baby down, making labor smoother and often faster.
It helps reduce pain and fosters a sense of calm and well‑being.
It’s sensitive to your environment: stress, fear, or feeling observed can inhibit oxytocin, while privacy, touch, and safety boost it.
As Ina May Gaskin beautifully reminds us:
“If a woman doesn't look like a goddess during labor, then someone isn't treating her right.”
Her wisdom reminds us that birth is primal—when we feel cherished and protected, our oxytocin flows.
Dr. Michel Odent, a pioneer in natural birth, encouraged creating intimate environments for labor, noting that “the presence of a trusted partner and the comfort of privacy allow oxytocin to deepen, making contractions more harmonious and efficient.”
And from the medical side, the Cleveland Clinic reinforces that oxytocin is released not just during birth but also during bonding activities—and that the more freely it flows, the more smoothly labor tends to proceed.
Bringing Love into Birth: What It Looks Like
Touch & closeness – Gentle caresses, massage, skin‑to‑skin, warm embraces.
Comfort & privacy – Dim lights, soft music, and a calm support team.
Partner connection – Eye contact, loving words, intentional breathing together.
Sensual presence – Feeling safe to let go, invite pleasure, and embrace your body’s natural rhythm.
Because birth is not medical—it’s biological, intimate, and profoundly human.
Is Your Birth Class Missing This?
Most classes teach what to do. I teach how to feel empowered—through connection, through deeply sharing this moment with your partner, and through engaging your body’s natural chemistry.
Tired of the same old birth class?
Ready to elevate your experience—and your connection—with your partner?
Join my transformative birth classes and learn how to invite sensuality and oxytocin into your labor, creating a birth that’s not only efficient, but loving, powerful, and deeply yours.