Hormonal Changes that Come With Pregnancy

During your pregnancy, your body will go through a number of changes.

In addition to weight gain, swelling in the face and feet, and the different dietary preferences you may have with a baby in tow, your hormones change as well.

Your body also creates hormones specifically for pregnancy to ensure the safety and health of you and your unborn child. While pregnancy can be an exciting time in your life

Here are a few hormonal changes that come with pregnancy.

What Role Do Hormones Play in Pregnancy?

There are a few hormones that are created in the body during pregnancy they include:

-human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG). Only pregnant women make hCG.

The hormone is found mostly in the placenta. HCG is also found in the urine and blood of the mother, and there are higher levels of hCG in women during the first trimester of pregnancy.

HCG is often responsible for nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, which is why some expectant mothers have morning sickness during the first few months of their pregnancy journey.

-hPL, or human placental lactogen. This is a hormone that the placenta makes to provide nutrients to the unborn baby.

HPL also stimulates the mother’s mammary glands to produce milk so she can nurse her baby after delivery.

Hormones that Increase During Pregnancy

Estrogen is already present in the female body before pregnancy and men have small amounts of estrogen as well.

Estrogen develops sexual traits in females and is created in the ovaries normally.

However, the placenta makes estrogen when a woman is pregnant. The body makes more estrogen during pregnancy to keep mother and baby healthy.

A woman also has progesterone at all times, but the placenta and ovaries make progesterone in pregnancy. Progesterone helps thicken the lining of the uterus so a fertilized egg can be implanted there.

Symptoms of Hormonal Changes in Pregnancy

The hormonal changes you experience while pregnant are not just physical. You will notice that hormones affect your mood and concentration.

For instance, progesterone is responsible for the irritability many women feel during PMS.

This hormone stays at high levels during pregnancy, so you may find that you’re especially impatient or agitated.

Feeling aggravated or uncomfortable is common during the first trimester as your body adjusts to the pregnancy.

During the second trimester, progesterone and estrogen combine to facilitate the growth of the fetus.

It is common for your hair to grow rapidly when you’re in the second trimester due to the surge of estrogen in your body.

Estrogen and progesterone also stimulate the hormone that produces melanocytes.

This means that you may notice gray or brown patches on your face since your body is producing more melanin.

This condition is known as melasma and can be treated. If you live in or near the Kansas City area, you can find effective melasma treatment near Kansas City to even your skin tone and help you maintain confidence in your appearance while preparing for the birth of your baby.

You may also notice that a dark line is forming on your stomach. This is known as the linea nigra.

Your nipples can also become darker, and it is common for some women to develop freckles or moles while pregnant.

Your skin will likely lighten back to its normal hue once the baby is born.

Cortisol is another hormone that increases while you’re pregnant. Even though cortisol is considered a “stress hormone,” which often has a negative connotation, cortisol is necessary for healthy fetal growth.

This hormone also stabilizes your glucose levels and accelerates your metabolism.

Unfortunately, high cortisol levels are also associated with facial redness and stretch marks, as well as high blood pressure. Again, these are symptoms that will likely subside once you give birth.

It’s clear that your body goes through several transformations when you’re pregnant.

When you know what is happening and how to handle these changes, you’ll feel more at ease and can enjoy this special time in your life.

If you notice that your hormonal symptoms are severe or you’re concerned about issues like fatigue, skin darkening, and mood swings, you should speak with your doctor to come up with a treatment plan that works best for you.

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Emma

A mother and lover of all things practical. My blog covers about motherhood by exploring all areas of life. Our tips and tricks help the large community to do more in less time so they can spend time enjoying happy, healthy families.