Oestrogen and cortisol levels
>rise before the birth, then fall away afterwards as testosterone rises.

what you send there give me hope because i must have been able to secrete
cortisone  ( despite that i am medically considered unable to )before and
during the birth,  because i recognised myself in the behavior of the
Djungarians> I felt great and din't get exhausted by the experience of
getting up at 3 o clock ,making the fire and making the bed in a hurry ( the
birth happens 2 hours later)

 Has anyone had experience with
>this fascinating custom?
i had never heard of that custom but we did save the placenta both ate a
piece ( raw) then dried it to keep for the baby during his growing years to
give in case of health problem ( a custom in some cultures)
Placenta is often given to mothers ( not in occidental countries  ) after
birth because the hormones present in it trigger contraction of the uterus
to stop bleeding and get back to a less distended form.
my wife can attest that it works powerfully .
jean-claude