A–Z Glossary

Melatonin

A hormone involved in darkness signaling and sleep timing that may increase the uterus’s response to oxytocin near labor.

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Blue light and sleep impact

Blue light and sleep impact

How blue light affects the sleep-wake system Blue light is the short-wavelength end of the visible spectrum. It is not inherently harmful in daytime; in fact, natural morning light helps anchor circadian timing and supports alertness. The issue arises when blue-enriched light is delivered late in the evening, after the brain has started to prepare […]

Does labor usually start at night and timing patterns

Does labor usually start at night and timing patterns

Does labor usually start at night? Labor does not always start at night, but nighttime onset is common enough that many maternity clinicians and researchers take the pattern seriously. The clearest pattern applies to spontaneous labor, meaning labor that begins without induction or planned cesarean birth. When birth is scheduled or medically started, hospital routines […]