Hormones-the chemical messengers in our bodies-are one of the many facets that comprise a birth. Unseen to the naked eye, yet their effect is so profound and powerful that the course of a mother's labor can be dictated by these tiny particles. Although there are a number of hormones that play their part in maintaining and sustaining a pregnancy, there are a few renowned ones that cannot be ignored when labor contractions hit. Oxytocin: Often dubbed as the "love hormone", oxytocin's role before, during, and after labor is noteworthy. While examining human uteri (s. uterus), researchers have identified the concentration [...]