Hormonal changes during pregnancy

Hormonal influence in pregnancy

Pregnancy hormones give a woman a healthy glow that reflects her pregnancy period it also stimulates fetal development and triggers the body’s responses to physical activity. From the moment you become pregnant until weeks after birth, your pregnancy hormones take a long rollercoaster ride.

Pregnancy brings a variety of changes to the body in both internal and external matters. They can range from very common and expected changes, such as swelling, bloating, and fluid retention to less familiar ones such as vision and hearing changes.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy

The hormonal and physiological changes that come with pregnancy are very unique features of a female body. 

Pregnant women experience a sudden and dramatic rush of estrogen and progesterone. They also experience changes in the amount and function of a number of other regular hormones. These changes don’t just affect the mood of the body of a woman. They can also:

• create the “glow” of pregnancy 
• significantly aid in the development of the baby
• Reduce the physical impact of exercise and physical activity on the body

You’re already familiar with some of these hormones – like hCG (remember the fateful pink lines on your pregnancy test kit ?). But what other hormones impact your body during pregnancy? And what does their influence really mean?

From estrogen, and progesterone to relaxin, and oxytocin, we’ll fill you in on all the necessary pregnancy hormones that you need to know about.

 What is the role of hormones during pregnancy?

Many hormone levels are affected in the body during pregnancy. Several hormones play very important roles to stimulate and support pregnancy. These are:

Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG). This hormone is particularly made during pregnancy. It is made almost exclusively in the placenta of the maternal body. HCG hormone levels found in the mother’s blood and urine rise a lot during the first trimester and then it fluctuates significantly. They may play a part in nausea and vomiting often linked to the indications of pregnancy.

Human placental lactogen (hPL). This hormone is also called human chorionic somatomammotropin. It is also made by the placenta. It gives nutrition to the developing fetus. It also stimulates milk glands in the breasts of a mother for breastfeeding.

Estrogen. This group of hormones helps develop and induce female sexual traits. It is commonly formed in the ovaries. It is also made by the placenta during pregnancy to help maintain a healthy pregnancy and bring about the needed changes in the body.

Progesterone. This hormone is made by both the ovaries and by the placenta during pregnancy. It mainly stimulates the thickening of the uterine lining in the maternal body for implantation of a fertilized egg and further development and growth of the fetus.

Relaxin

Relaxin and oxytocin are the pregnancy hormones that a female body needs to fit that bundle of joy through a very small space. 

The ovaries and the placenta together produce relaxin. Relaxin levels are typically highest during the first trimester because they prevent your body from having unnecessary contractions that can lead to premature birth. This pregnancy hormone also loosens the ligaments in your pelvis to support pregnancy.

Unfortunately, relaxin is non-discriminatory about the ligaments it loosens, so it affects all the joints and ligaments in your body Causing some adverse effects. This loosening can lead to the lower back and hip pain, which is very common in women during pregnancy. Toward the end of your pregnancy, relaxin gets to work softening and widening your cervix to help in childbirth. 

Oxytocin

Like relaxin, oxytocin works to prepare your cervix at the time of childbirth. This pregnancy hormone softens and dilates the opening once it’s time for your baby to make his/her debut In the external world. Oxytocin achieves this by creating strong contractions of muscles in your body. Once your little one arrives, oxytocin also stimulates the milk to release during breastfeeding.

Many Pregnancy hormones can make your life miserable, with nausea, joint and back pain, and even those frequent and regular trips to the bathroom. Still It’s thanks to your hormones, though, that your body is able to grow that little human inside you.