Balancing hormones post-pregnancy is crucial for my well-being and my baby's health.
For most women, post-pregnancy is a tough ride, from dealing with unique experiences to the turbulence in hormones. In fact, it is after pregnancy that a woman experiences one of the most drastic fluctuations in hormones, as the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall dramatically, bringing about some significant changes in your physical and emotional health.
Understanding these changes by recognizing the signs is crucial for new mothers. This will not only help you minimize their effect, but also enable a smoother recovery, and promote maternal and infant well-being.
Key
signs of hormonal imbalance after pregnancy
After pregnancy, many women feel irritable, frustrated, annoyed, or angry. This can be linked to the drop in progesterone levels after childbirth. Progesterone is the key hormone during pregnancy, calming the brain. However, after pregnancy, its levels drop significantly, which causes a temporary imbalance and mood shifts. However, once you resume your normal menstrual cycle, your body will start producing progesterone again, restoring the normal balance in your mood.
Depressive
symptoms
According to Dr. Nitika Sobti, Gynecologist & Obstetrician, Director - Cloudnine Hospital Gurugram, “About 25% of women may experience more severe depression, known as postpartum depression. Many new mothers (50-80%) also experience "baby blues," which are mild, short-term mood swings that typically occur in the first week after delivery. Symptoms such as sadness, a sense of being down, or blue, and difficulty bonding with your baby, leading to a feeling of guilt, are common after pregnancy. This is usually caused by the drop in estradiol and serotonin hormone levels after pregnancy to support breastfeeding. This drop is associated with significant mood swings, making new mothers emotionally vulnerable.”
Chronic
fatigue
Low energy post-pregnancy tends to continue for longer periods and sometimes becomes a part of your everyday life. It brings with it a feeling of exhaustion and you feel overwhelmed with regular tasks, which takes a toll on your mental health as well.
Unusual
weight gain or weight loss
It is absolutely normal for you to retain a healthy height after pregnancy. However, in some women, stress, and exhaustion could make it difficult to shed those kilos gained during pregnancy, or even do the opposite of rapid weight loss. Either way, it could point to a thyroid hormonal imbalance that needs to be addressed.
Irregular
menstrual cycle
For some women, the menstrual cycle returns to normal in a few months to a year. This is especially true for breastfeeding mothers. However, if menstruation does not return or is irregular, it is a sign of hormonal imbalance, and you need to consult your doctor to have it diagnosed.
While the signs of hormonal imbalance could be difficult to detect
since everything is new and unique for you to understand. However, recognizing
these signs and differentiating “normal” from “abnormal” experiences is crucial
for your overall well- being and your baby’s health as well.
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