There is much more to pregnancy than the baby bumps and hunger pangs. Aside from physical changes that occur during this delicate and joyous period, there are also physiological and hormonal changes that often significantly impact a pregnant woman’s health. Hormones play an essential role in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. Understanding your body’s hormonal changes during pregnancy will help you in the different stages of this condition and postpartum recovery. Below, we highlighted the hormonal changes during pregnancy and postpartum. We also discussed their effect on a woman’s health.

What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers released into the blood and transported to different organs and tissues, where they carry out their designated functions. There are many types of hormones, each acting on different areas of bodily functions and processes. Some of these functions and processes are:
● Maintenance of body and temperature and thirst
● Cognitive function and mood
● Metabolism of food items
● Development and growth
● Sexual function and reproductive growth and health

The role of hormones, the term hormonal can also qualify as moody. While hormones play a crucial role in our mood, their bodily functions are more than that. Hormones affect many bodily functions, from hunger and heart rate to complex reproduction and emotion. Some hormones (serotonin and dopamine) act as neurotransmitters, relaying messages between nerve cells in the brain and from neurons to the muscles. Neurotransmitters help to organize movement and control mood and cognition.

How hormonal and transitions affect your health Hormonal changes during pregnancy and postpartum can significantly affect a woman’s health.
One of the major ways these changes affect your health include: Mood swings: Of course, many of us are aware of mood swings, and some of us experience them, especially during pregnancy. Mood swings during and after pregnancy are a result of hormonal fluctuations. While these changes are regular and go away independently, you must speak to your doctor if you experience severe mood swings, anxiety, or depression. And if your hormonal levels are low, you should consider hormone replacement therapy. This therapy, which involves the administration of testosterone via methods like injections, gels, patches, and patches, helps raise the hormone levels in the body.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body undergoes many changes, one of which is the increase in hormones that prepare it for childbirth and lactation. These hormonal changes are usually accompanied by many physical and emotional symptoms:
● Fatigue
● Mood swings
● Weight gain
● Morning sickness
Some of the hormones that play an important role during pregnancy are:

Estrogen: Estrogen helps with the development and growth of the fetus, the breasts, and the uterus. Plus, it can help control the menstrual cycle and prepare the body for childbirth.

Progesterone: Progesterone is a hormone related to pregnancy and menstruation. One of its duties is to stiffen the lining of the uterus and prepare it for implantation. Progesterone also helps maintain pregnancy. And it plays a key role in successful labor. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): Human chorionic gonadotropin is secreted by the placenta post implantation. It has one main job: to maintain the pregnancy by encouraging the production of estrogen and progesterone.

Relaxin: Relaxin is another hormone associated with pregnancy. It is produced by the ovaries and the placenta during this period. It helps soothe the ligaments and joints in the pelvis, ensuring the baby’s easy passage via the birth canal during pregnancy.

Hormonal changes during postpartum One may expect the physical changes to end after pregnancy, but it doesn’t. After childbirth, the woman’s body undergoes significant hormonal changes as it reverts to its pre-pregnancy state. One of the significant hormonal changes happens during the first few days and weeks after delivery. These changes can result in many physical and emotional symptoms, like:
● Postpartum depression
● Anxiety
● Fatigue

Some of the hormones that play a significant role during postpartum are:

Oxytocin: Oxytocin is a hormone that stimulates contractions during labor and delivery. Plus, it helps postpartum recovery by encouraging bonding between the mother and her newborn. Oxytocin is crucial in breast milk production and helps reduce postpartum bleeding.

Prolactin: Prolactin is a hormone that oversees breast milk production. Produced by the pituitary gland, this hormone also stimulates the growth of milk-producing cells in the breasts.

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH): GnRH helps regulate the menstrual cycle. It is usually subdued during pregnancy. However, it returns to the status quo after delivery, resulting in the resumption of ovulation and menstruation.

Conclusion:

Hormonal transition during pregnancy and postpartum can greatly affect a woman’s physical and emotional health. Understanding the changes can help women pass through pregnancy and postpartum recovery stages. And if you have any symptoms that pose a concern, ensure you speak to your healthcare provider.