birth

• • 2 things must happen before baby born
  • Muscles in uterus must contract to push out baby
  • Tissue of cervix must soften so can expand and dilate to allow way out for ba
• • Prostaglandins– released by wall of uterus to start labor and make uterus more sensitive to oxytocin
• • Oxytocin– coordinates contraction of smooth muscle of uterus during labour resulting in birth of baby
• • Prolactin– stimulates milk production
• • Relaxin– further aids softening of cervix
• • Progesterone and oestrogen hormone levels decrease causing stronger contractions