Hormonal shifts- How important are they? Now that you have brought a new life to this world, you will experience a lot of emotions. Your body and mind are on a roller-coaster. This is what you may identify as Baby Blues. You may feel emotional, irritable and depressed at times. This is mainly due to hormonal shifts.
We understand that you are feeling the gushes of hormones right now. But the good news is, this will end very soon. Here we will discuss about the hormonal shift, its effects and what can be done about it.
Post-partum hormonal shifts
Important Hormone fluctuations during post-partum
- Progesterone and Estrogen – These hormones start to decrease soon after you have delivered your baby.
- Oxytocin – This increase just after the Progesterone and Estrogen decreases. This stimulates the parental emotions in you. It is also responsible for Baby Blues. However, it moves out of your system within few days of delivery.
- Prolactin – This increase for producing breast milk. It decreases to pre-pregnancy level if you are not breast feeding.
- Thyroid hormones – Over release of thyroid hormones can cause anxiety, irritability, weight loss, fatigue, insomnia. Over the time, the thyroid cells may get ruptures. This might lead to Hypothyroidism and cause constipation, excessive weight gain, brittle hair and nails etc. The thyroid hormones take up to 18 months to come to normal. You can talk to your doctor about it.
Signs that you are having post-partum hormonal shifts
3 to 4 Weeks after delivery
The hormonal shifts may sometime be tough. But how would you know that you are experiencing hormonal shifts. Apart from depression, anxiety and insomnia, here some more signs
- Not willing to take a bath and not caring about your hygiene
- Not willing to leave your baby with anyone else
- Lack of interest in activities like eating, drinking or socializing
3 months after delivery
By this time the hormones start to get back to normal. Now you have a more settled routine. However, you may still have disturbed sleep. This may result in decreasing of the melatonin levels. You are moody because your cortisol levels are up.
6 months after delivery
The only hormone that works during this stage is the Prolactin. This decreases as you reduce or stop breastfeeding.
How to know you are suffering from post-partum depression?
Post-partum depression is real. Most women suffer from this. Baby blues subdues after a week or two. But you are still having, anxiety, insomnia, irritability and mood swings, you are having depression. Here are a few signs to identify post-partum depression.
- Lack of interest in your new born
- Mood swing and constant crying
- Lack of concentration
- Panic attacks and anxiety
- Inability to take pleasure in anything
- Fatigue
- Lack of appetite
- Sleeplessness
- Body aches and pains
How to handle depression due to hormonal shifts?
You cannot say good bye to these symptoms at once. They will gradually decrease. However, you can follow some tips to make things better.
- Never hesitate to ask for help. Get your family to help you in chores and with the baby.
- Take rest, eat well and do light exercise.
- Indulge in some self-care. Take a soothing bath, dress up and look beautiful.
- Socialize and take some fun time out with friends.
However, if you continue to have these symptoms beyond 6 most after delivery, talk to your doctor. You must also consult your doctor if you have severe panic attacks or signs of depression.
Visit OvenYr.com for more information on post-partum hormonal shifts. Book a tele- appointment today to speak to the doctor.