What is parturition? Which hormones are involved in induction of parturition?

The process of giving birth to a baby (child birth) when the development of foetus completes in the mother’s womb is called parturition. It is a neuroendocrine mechanism. Two major hormones involved in the process are:

i) oxytocin – which leads to contract the smooth muscles of myometrium of the uterus and directs the full term foetus towards birth canal. i.e. fetal ejection reflux.

ii) Relaxin hormone causes relaxation of the pelvic ligaments and prepares the uterus for child birth.