[ARTICLE] “Birthing in the dark, best for mum” Courier Mail, April 22nd 2019

In the last few weeks of pregnancy the uterus develops receptors to melatonin and makes the uterus muscle more sensitive to the hormone. Combined with oxytocin it stimulates the uterus to start contracting.

Melatonin is also a natural sleep- regulating chemical that typically ­increases in the body after dark.

“This is why you will find most ­babies are born early in the morning after mum has laboured during the night. The amount of light that you are exposed to influences the creation of the hormone and hospitals have notoriously bright lights,” midwife and sleep expert Amanda Bude told The Courier-Mail.

Read more here: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/birthing-in-the-dark-best-for-mum/news-story/15108b1dc1006dd814fbf1f3fd7161af