You’ve done it! You’re lying there, holding this bundle that you’ve grown and feeling overwhelmed at the fact that you’ve birthed the most magical human to ever exist. That’ll be the oxytocin talking. Take all the photos but maybe wait before you start contacting modelling agencies just yet.

Oxytocin is involved in milk production, while prolactin signals breast tissue to grow and helps with milk. Its levels spike after delivery when breastfeeding needs to kick in. For the next few days, you’ll be flooded with feel-good oxytocin, which will override any other hormonal fluctuations – even though your oestrogen and progesterone-producing placenta has now gone.

If you’re wondering what to do with that placenta, the wellness industry quickly adopted the idea of drying and encapsulating the organ for various supposed health benefits. As the main hormone producer during pregnancy, it’d follow that consuming your placenta might help slow the rapid decline in oestrogen and progesterone post-labour, right? Dr Aziz-Scott is quick to give that notion a definite “no”. “The hormones will just get digested, so no, I don’t think you’d get a boost – although placentas are probably very high in iron and other nutrients. It’s like a self-made black pudding.”

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