Postpartum Hormonal Changes: What to Expect?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by MSc Ta Quoc Ban - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital
Postpartum hormonal changes occur soon after a baby is born at the same rate as at the onset of pregnancy. Hormone levels in a woman's body change dramatically during the first few hours to days after giving birth.

1. Overview of postpartum hormonal disorders

In most cases, when a rapid pregnancy test is positive with two bold lines, a woman's hormone levels have already begun to change. Progesterone and hCG initiate signaling and cause a nonmenstrual response for the next menstrual cycle. As many people know, when these two hormones begin to appear and increase in blood levels, the body will show signs of a big change that occurs in the first months of pregnancy such as vomiting, fatigue and breast tenderness.
During pregnancy, the body produces large amounts of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These two steroid hormones are key to creating dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters in the brain that help a woman feel happy and relaxed. This explains the wonderful feeling a woman feels when she finds out she is pregnant.
However, what happens to these hormones after the baby is born. Unfortunately, right after giving birth and weeks after, estrogen and progesterone levels drop dramatically. Besides, prolactin and oxytocin levels will increase rapidly in the postpartum period.
This dramatic postpartum hormonal disturbance is thought to be responsible for the psychological and emotional changes in a woman. Therefore, it is necessary to take a closer look at the knowledge related to hormonal changes after giving birth to know that the emotional swings experienced by young mothers are completely normal problems.

2. How do postpartum hormones change in the first few days?

The moment a baby is born is always the most memorable moment for women. It doesn't really matter how long labor lasts, and it doesn't affect how happy you feel when you see your baby for the first time. However, hormonal changes after giving birth will immediately take place in the following days. Features of postnatal hormonal disturbances in the early days include:
A drop in progesterone and estrogen levels soon after the baby is born and the placenta is removed. The oxytocin peak occurs immediately after birth to compensate for the drop in estrogen and progesterone levels. Hormones are involved in a woman's emotions and maternal instincts. Prolactin increases rapidly to stimulate milk production.

3. Hormones in the 3rd to 6th week postpartum

After the first few weeks, a woman may begin to feel that her emotions are more stable. The mother gradually got used to taking care of the baby and no longer complained about insomnia. Many experts think that the first three months after giving birth is a time characterized by sleep deprivation and emotional instability due to the body's excess secretion of adrenaline.
By about 6 weeks postpartum, symptoms of postpartum depression may begin to appear as hormone levels begin to change. Changes a woman may experience include an unwillingness to shower or focus on hygiene, fear of leaving the baby around, inability to get enough sleep due to constant caregiving, and lack of appetite. eating, there is no need to leave the house and interact with other people.

4. Hormones at 3 months postpartum

During the 3 months postpartum period, the mother has gradually formed new habits in the way of living to serve the care of the baby. However, hormone levels at this point have not yet returned to their pre-pregnancy normal. About 2 to 3 months after giving birth, hormone levels gradually begin to return to pre-pregnancy levels. However, cortisol levels continue to rise due to the stress of caring for a baby. Lack of sleep or poor sleep reduces melatonin and serotonin levels. These hormonal changes after giving birth can negatively affect a woman's psychological well-being.

5. Hormone levels at 6 months postpartum

The largest postpartum hormonal disturbance observed at this time is a drop in prolactin or lactation hormone levels. This hormone always needs to be increased during breastfeeding, but when starting solids, its concentration will decrease. Even if breastfeeding is continued beyond 6 months, the baby's milk needs will most likely still be well adjusted at this point and the milk will not be produced as much as before.
If these women are exclusively breastfeeding, their postpartum hormone changes may be slightly different from those of formula-fed infants at 6 months postpartum. According to Susan Loeb-Zeitlin, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, “For women who are breastfeeding, hormone levels are suppressed for longer (the more breast-feeding, the longer the duration). longer inhibition time).

6. When will hormone levels return to normal?

Normally, a woman's hormone levels will return to normal by 6 months postpartum. This time period also often coincides with the first menstrual cycle after giving birth. Levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone at 6 months postpartum will return to normal levels as before pregnancy. And they will continue to change cyclically and the woman will begin to menstruate again.

7. Signs to recognize hormone disorders

Sometimes, pregnancy and delivery can cause major hormonal changes. In these cases, the woman needs intervention to regain her balance. Some signs help to recognize the imbalance of hormones after giving birth such as:
Fatigue and depression Decreased sex drive Weight gain One of the most common postpartum hormonal disorders occurs in women. thyroid gland, accounting for about 10% of cases. These problems usually clear up on their own with time, but in some cases, your doctor will prescribe medication to help regulate your hormones.
If the hormonal disturbance occurs before pregnancy, it can also appear after pregnancy with a fairly high rate. Hormonal causes such as polycystic ovary syndrome should be treated before deciding to become pregnant.
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Reference source: parents.com