Experts agree that a small minority of women are able to have an orgasm while giving birth. The experience is believed to be due in part to individual expectations. Women who experience orgasm during birth often believe that childbirth does not have to be as painful as they were brought up to expect. These mothers work throughout their entire pregnancies to prepare for an orgasmic birth.
An orgasmic childbirth does not necessarily mean that no pain at all will be experienced. The pain of giving birth can instead be masked by or coupled with the pleasure of orgasm. Many women find that having an orgasm during birth makes natural birth easier. Studies have shown that pain and vaginal tearing can be reduced during this kind of birth.
This reduction in pain is generally associated with a hormone called oxytocin, which is the same hormone that releases when a woman orgasms during sexual intercourse. This hormone is often called the love hormone, and it greatly influences how the female brain reacts to intense emotions. Oxytocin is also responsible for helping new mothers relax and bond with their infants during breastfeeding, which can be painful.
Oxytocin is released during birth when Ferguson's reflex occurs. This reflex refers to the positive reaction that the female body has to any kind of pressure on the walls of the vagina or the cervix. The release of oxytocin increases the rate of contractions, which in turn increases the amount of hormone that is released.
When a woman experiences an orgasm during birth, she increases the blood flow to her vagina. It can also increase the amount of nutrients in that area. Studies have shown that these nutrients and flow of blood can help prevent damage from occurring to the vaginal walls.
Emotions and expectations may play a key role in how an orgasmic birth is achieved. Many mothers prepare their minds and bodies during the nine months of pregnancy to be ready to have an orgasm during birth. According to many moms, birthing mothers must believe that an orgasm during birth is possible and be ready to relax and experience it. Stress and fear are known to elevate stress hormones, which can contribute to blocking the amount of oxytocin released.
In order for mothers to have orgasms during birth, it may be helpful to plan for natural home births. Pain medication can block the way the mother's body is reacting to the birth. In addition, a regular hospital setting may not provide the correct stimulation to allow a woman to concentrate on achieving orgasm.