Do you know that your postpartum hormones begin to kick in as soon as your baby is born?
I think most women will agree that postpartum hormones are not something they prepare for during pregnancy. They are more focused on labor prep, making sure they have all of the newborn essentials and getting through the third trimester of pregnancy.
But, the reality is that your postpartum recovery in the fourth trimester requires a lot of attention too.
Here’s everything you need to know about postpartum hormones, understanding the average postpartum hormones timeline and how to balance postpartum hormones. Plus, I will share the top tips for dealing with them!
This post is all about postpartum hormones.
What are the major postpartum hormones?
Postpartum hormones and the mental and physical changes that come with them are usually not thought of during pregnancy. But they kick in right after you give birth, so they are definitely something to understand.
Progesterone
Progesterone is very high during pregnancy – almost 200x the normal levels! It relaxes your ligaments and helps your uterus accommodate your growing baby among other things.
Progesterone drops dramatically after birth once the placenta is delivered and no longer in your body. This allows milk production to begin. Your body will not start to produce progesterone again until you get your first period, which may create a temporary postpartum imbalance.
Estrogen
Estrogen levels are at an all time high during pregnancy, just like progesterone. Estrogen plays a vital role in pregnancy by maintaining pregnancy and preventing misccariage.
As soon as you give birth, estrogen starts to decrease. This is especially important if you are breastfeeding because too much estrogen can prevent milk production.
Prolactin
Prolactin levels increase during pregnancy to prepare your body for milk production. But, higher levels of progesterone prevent milk production from actually beginning. Following birth, progesterone levels decrease while prolactin levels continue to increase.
Prolactin is known to contribute to feelings of euphoria and happiness. A deficiency of prolactin may lead to bonding issues between you and baby. So, skin-to-skin contact is highly recommended and if you wish to breastfeed, you should do so as soon as possible after the baby is born.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is known as the “baby bonding hormone” and levels immediately rise after birth as you snuggle and feed your baby. The hormone is responsible for the strong mothering instincts you will feel and helps compensate for the initial drop in progesterone and estrogen after birth.
How long do they last?
You can expect postpartum hormones to go back to normal around six months after birth. At this point, progesterone and estrogen have returned to pre-pregnancy levels and you might even have your first postpartum period.
Does postpartum hormone balance exist?
It takes up to six months or more for your postpartum hormones to level out. But sometimes, pregnancy and giving birth can cause them to be a little out of whack and imbalance.
Signs of postpartum hormone imbalance include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Low libido
- Weight gain
- Thyroid issues
- Cysts or fibroids
- Chronic fatigue
What do postpartum hormones feel like?
The dramatic decrease in progesterone and estrogen following birth can contribute to feeling the “baby blues” and a range of postpartum emotions including mood swings, anxiety, sadness and irritability.
Depending on your systems, your doctor may also diagnose you with postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression. You will probably also experience postpartum night sweats.
What’s the difference between baby blues, postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression?
Baby Blues
The short period of time (approximately 2 weeks) following your child’s birth where you may feel sad, worried, irritable, moody, overwhelmed, trapped and may cry a lot.
It is triggered by the physical and emotional changes following birth as well as the plummeting of levels of estrogen and progesterone (that were high during pregnancy).
It is normal to feel anxious about your baby as you adjust to your new role as mom and the world around you seems to change overnight.
The baby blues affect up to 80% of mothers but usually goes away on its own within a few weeks.
Related: How To Tell If You Are Experiencing Baby Blues Symptoms
Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum anxiety (PPA) takes the baby blues a step further. Being a new mom can be stressful but those with postpartum anxiety usually have overwhelming, irrational worry that does not go away on its own after a few weeks like the baby blues. It takes new mom concerns but makes them feel more extreme and persistent.
Some of the factors that can influence a mom to experience postpartum anxiety are the hormonal shifts after giving birth, sleep deprivation, lifestyle or relationship changes post birth, societal pressures on new moms to be “perfect”, having a history of anxiety, having a premature baby, or previous experience with a miscarriage.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a more serious condition that many women experience during the first year after giving birth.
Having a baby is a major, life-changing event but for some women, profound feelings of sadness, overwhelm and a lack of interest in the baby or life in general persist.
Postpartum depression typically lasts for several weeks, months or even a year and usually requires prompt treatment to help manage symptoms.
A mother with postpartum depression may feel embarrassed or ashamed about not being perfectly happy after having a baby or feel that others would judge her if they knew all the struggles she was going through behind closed doors.
You can read more about the signs and symptoms of postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression here.
Tips to Dealing with Postpartum Hormones
1. Give yourself grace.
There’s a reason that this is my #1 postpartum mental health tip and that’s because it is easily the most important in my opinion. With parenthood comes good days, bad days, tired days and everything in between. This is a brand new season of life that you haven’t experienced yet (even if you’re going from one to two kids) so take a breath and give yourself grace.
2. Advocate for yourself and let your support system know you need help.
It’s easy to get caught up in the baby’s needs but your needs are important too! It can be hard for others to recognize that you need help so it is your job to speak up and ask for help. It can be hard at first but once you get used to it, it can make a big difference.
3. Understand that postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression are more common than you think.
It’s sometimes not talked about enough but many moms struggle with some sort of postpartum mental health issues. It’s easy to look at social media and the highlight reel but behind the smiling faces can be postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression or other issues.
4. Know that you are not alone.
Your postpartum mental health is so important and a crucial part of it is knowing you are not alone in new motherhood and all that comes with it. Which brings me to postpartum mental health tip #5…
5. Take care of yourself.
Shower daily, change into new clothes and make sure you are eating too. It can be so hard to remember to take care of yourself while you are feeding/changing/soothing a newborn but it is sooo important that you take care of you too.
6. Talk to other mom friends.
Other moms are some of the best people to talk to because they totally get it. They have been through the sleepless nights, endless diaper changes and constant feedings but they also know how amazing it is once you get through all that.
7. Create a new “schedule” that works for YOU.
This is particularly important during your maternity leave. It can be easy to stay in pajamas all day but it is good to have a flexible schedule to stick to.
8. Unfollow accounts on social media that don’t make you feel your best.
Social media can be a tricky place, especially when you are emotionally vulnerable. Whether people mean to or not, it tends to become a highlight reel where moms love to share their child’s wins and their own advice. There is a time and a place for the advice but don’t let anyone make you feel less than so go block happy for as long as you need to.
9. Get some fresh air with your baby.
This could be to go for a walk, run an errand or simply go for a drive. It can be really scary to go out with your baby alone but not only is it refreshing to leave your house but it also builds confidence within you when you successfully run an errand with your baby.
10. Understand no two kids are the same.
Playing the comparison game won’t do you any good. Instead, focus on you and your baby and block the rest of the world out. Sure there are average timelines for when babies should hit certain milestones but each baby is unique and will crawl, eat, talk on their own timeline.
11. Let go of “rules” and do what is best for you.
Everyone and their mother have advice and tips but at the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for you and your family. If that means a little screen time while you cook dinner or a later bedtime so you can have family time, it’s worth it if it means something to you.
12. Create safe zones for babies/toddlers.
Sometimes moms just need a minute to compose themself or go to the bathroom. Gates, cribs/pack n plays or bassinets are great options!
13. Pick only one to two chores for the day
Do what you can and don’t overdo it. Those newborn snuggles are important and the dishes, laundry, sweeping can wait.
14. Use store pickup or delivery when possible.
Target drive up and grocery store pick up should be your BFF and makes life sooo much easier some days so don’t shy away from it.
15. Keep a running list of to do’s in the notes app on your phone.
This is the perfect way to keep track of all the ideas and to do’s floating through your head. The newborn fog is just as bad (maybe even worse) than pregnancy brain because you’re working on such little sleep so this is a game changer for actually remembering things hours later.
16. Read up on postpartum mental health.
Educating yourself on the baby blues, postpartum anxiety and postpartum as well as encouraging your significant other to do the same can be very beneficial, especially in identifying the signs for these postpartum mental health issues. Many times, it takes you speaking up to get the help you need.
17. Talk to your doctor / See a therapist.
This can be incredibly helpful, especially if you are dealing with postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. There are therapists out there who specifically work with postpartum women and really understand what moms are going through. Your OBGYN should be able to give you a few recommendations of therapists near you.