5 Ways Postpartum Hormones Affect Your Body

You go through months of physical changes during pregnancy, including intense shifts in your hormones. And, it’s not over even after labor and delivery. 

Hormonal changes continue to impact your physical health and wellness for months following a pregnancy. Some of these changes support new mothers physically and emotionally, while others can cause challenging side effects. 

At Longoria OBGYN in El Paso, Texas, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Leonardo A. Longoria supports his patients throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. 

If you’re pregnant or considering a pregnancy, you should know more about these five ways hormones affect your body after giving birth. When you have all the information, you’re better prepared for the postpartum experience.

1. Prolactin brings in your breast milk

The hormone prolactin signals your body to begin producing breast milk. While levels of this hormone increase during your pregnancy, prolactin begins to spike as soon as your baby latches and starts to breastfeed. 

You need this hormone to nurse your baby successfully, but prolactin can also cause fatigue.

2. Oxytocin bonds you to your baby

Oxytocin, a hormone that affects your mood and emotions, reduces pain and promotes loving bonding between you and your baby. Your oxytocin levels rise during labor and delivery, helping your body progress more smoothly through the process. 

After you give birth, your oxytocin levels remain elevated to help reduce the stress of the new arrival in your life.

3. Falling estrogen levels cause side effects

During pregnancy, your body needs elevated amounts of estrogen to support and nourish your growing baby. Estrogen enriches your uterine lining and helps your placenta develop. Once you’re no longer pregnant, your estrogen levels fall, causing symptoms that can be distressing or disruptive. 

Symptoms of reduced estrogen after pregnancy include feelings of sadness, mood swings, fatigue, and hair loss. You may also notice intimate symptoms like vaginal dryness and low libido. As your body recovers from pregnancy, these side effects should subside.

4. Reduced progesterone affects your mood

Another hormone that increases during pregnancy and decreases afterward is progesterone. When you’re pregnant, progesterone supports your uterine lining and helps you manage stress. 

As progesterone decreases postpartum, you may notice increased feelings of irritability and fatigue. Over time, your hormones and wellness rebalance, and these types of mood swings lessen.

5. Increased cortisol relates to stress

So many parts of giving birth cause stress. Pregnancy is stressful for your body, and, after your baby is born, the little one depends on you for essential care. Your life changes in both exciting and intense ways.

The stress hormone cortisol increases when you’re pregnant and often doesn’t decrease much during the postpartum period due to the ongoing stress you typically experience. Cortisol helps you power through challenges, but can also cause symptoms and side effects like anxiety, fatigue, depression, and difficulty losing weight.

To learn more about the changes to your hormones during and after pregnancy, and to receive comprehensive support as your family grows, contact Dr. Longoria today. Schedule an appointment at Longoria OBGYN by calling our office or booking online.