Login
Register
Blog
hormones during pregnancy

Do you really know what happens to your hormones during pregnancy? Do you know what hormones are in play during pregnancy?

Well, let’s go through some of the hormones and their functions during pregnancy, so you can have a better understanding of what is occurring in your body.

  • Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Hormone (hCG): This hormone is made in the placenta and is only produced during pregnancy. Johns Hopkins medicine says that it may be a part of nausea and vomiting that occurs during pregnancy.
  • Human Placental Lactogen (hPL): This is hormone is made in the placenta. It gives nutrition to the fetus and also helps stimulate milk glands in the breasts for breastfeeding.
  • Estrogen: Helps stimulate the growth of your uterus and assists with developing your breast ductal system. This is to prepare for breastfeeding. Your estrogen production during pregnancy increases 30x normal levels!
  • Progesterone: Helps prepare the lining of the uterus to accept a fertilized egg and with high levels of progesterone the body will not ovulate. Once pregnant progesterone levels continue to stay high to stimulate blood flow to the growing fetus and so the body does not produce more eggs. Like estrogen it also assists with breast milk production. This hormone can also cause smooth muscle relaxation, including the GI tract and uterus. Relaxation of the GI tract can be a reason why during pregnancy someone can experience constipation.
  • Relaxin: This hormone is produced by the corpus luteum (an endocrine gland made in the ovary when a follicle has matured and released an egg during ovulation) and the placenta (an organ developed in the uterus during pregnancy that provides oxygen and nutrients to your baby). It inhibits uterine activity and helps relax the pelvic joints to prepare for birth. Relaxin peaks during the first trimester.
  • Oxytocin: Plays a role during childbirth by stimulating contractions of the uterus during labor. It also helps with milk release during breastfeeding by stimulating the milk-ejection reflex post childbirth.
  • Prolactin: This hormone is released when a newborn suckles at their mother’s breast, resulting in the production of milk.

These hormones will have an influence on various systems of the body during pregnancy to prepare for birth and to allow the body to supply mother and fetus. These systems include:

  • Cardiovascular
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Urinary
  • Integumentary
  • Endocrine
  • Immune
  • Respiratory
  • Reproductive
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Sensory

Let’s go over a few examples of what changes are occurring within some of these systems:

Cardiovascular:

For instance, during pregnancy your diastolic blood pressure may decrease ~10-15 mmHg by 24-32 weeks. This is important to consider because body positioning can affect blood pressure. If you are lying on your back be mindful of symptoms of faintness, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, or agitation this can be indicative of supine hypotension.

Usually by the second trimester your OBGyn is recommending that you avoid lying on your back due to the possibility of occlusion of the vena cava and aorta in supine positions. You can modify this by using pillows to put yourself on an incline or laying on your side.

Respiratory:

If you notice yourself breathing more deeply, well during pregnancy your oxygen consumption increases by 20%. This is because now half of that oxygen has to go to the fetus and placenta.

Musculoskeletal:

Some common postural changes that occur include forward head posture, increased thoracic kyphosis, rounded shoulders, increased anterior pelvic tilt and usually a wider base of support while the belly becomes larger. So you can imagine with these postural changes and with the stress that is put on the body with increased load on the abdomen that someone can develop musculoskeletal pains.

For instance, some women begin to feel low back pain, hip pain, and pelvic girdle pain. And these symptoms can persist following pregnancy. Also, something to be aware of is that during pregnancy relaxing helps relax ligaments of the pelvic joints.

So when exercising you don't want to do any strenuous adductor (inner thigh muscles) strengthening especially with your legs wide apart. This can put too much stress on the pubic symphysis and lead to over stretching of those ligaments.

What occurs to your body throughout pregnancy and leading up to birth is much more complex than this blog, but we just wanted to share a few insights on the process. The first time you are pregnant it can be overwhelming because a lot of us are not educated on what occurs to our bodies until that day comes. Knowledge is power and can help us better understand and prepare us for when we decide to go through the miracle of pregnancy. And know that a pelvic health therapist can help support you through the journey! Click here to get started.

 

References:

https://www.britannica.com/science/corpus-luteum
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/staying-healthy-during-pregnancy/hormones-during-pregnancy
https://www.hormone.org
Irion, J. M. (2013). Womens health in physical therapy. La Vergne, TN: Cram101, Inc.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/placenta/art-20044425
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22337-placenta

What Our Patients Have to Say

Prev
Next

Testimonial by R.D., age 38

"I had a severe tear during childbirth that was not stitched together correctly and therefore healed poorly. Even after having a surgery a year later to remove the scar tissue, I was still having pain, and no one could explain why -- there was no overt 'reason' to explain the pain. I had tried other 'specialists' and even saw another physical therapist who had me do hip / leg stretches -- what a joke! I was about to give up and just 'live with it' until thankfully I kept searching online and found Heather.

Read more: Testimonial by R.D., age 38

Testimonial by S.P., Age 26

I would like to start off by thanking Heather Jeffcoat for educating me and curing me of Vaginismus. I had been married for almost three years before I was referred to Heather. I never knew about Vaginismus until almost three years into my marriage. I knew something was wrong when I went on my honeymoon and came back a Virgin. I had always imagined how magical my first night would be but boy was I wrong.

Read more: Testimonial by S.P., Age 26

Testimonial by A.M.

Months after giving birth, it was difficult for me to go from a sitting or lying position up to a full standing position without feeling that I had to remain hunched over until a bit of time had passed to get fully upright. However, after taking Heather’s course, I learned exercises to get my body back to normal. She also showed me correct ways to lift and carry my son as well as put him in/take him out of the carseat and stroller. This class was really beneficial and Heather is a wonderful teacher who made me feel very comfortable.

-- A.M.

Testimonial by A.M.

Months after giving birth, it was difficult for me to go from a sitting or lying position up to a full standing position without feeling that I had to remain hunched over until a bit of time had passed to get fully upright. However, after taking Heather’s course, I learned exercises to get my body back to normal. She also showed me correct ways to lift and carry my son as well as put him in/take him out of the carseat and stroller. This class was really beneficial and Heather is a wonderful teacher who made me feel very comfortable.

-- A.M.

Testimonial by Rosanna R., age 35

Heather has affected my life in the MOST POSITIVE way and I am forever grateful. My husband refers to her as the "sex doctor" so you can only imagine how happy he is with my therapy outcome.

After the birth of my son I suffered from "Vaginismus", however, at the time I just thought I was broken. My "broken vagina" affected me physically but it was an emotional struggle as well. Many women in my life also suffered with pain from sex after their babies were born so I knew I wasn't alone. They told me they "just got used to it" but I couldn't see myself living that way.

Sex wasn't just painful, it was literally impossible - IT DIDNT FIT!

Read more: Testimonial by Rosanna R.,...

Testimonial by Rosanna R., age 35

Heather has affected my life in the MOST POSITIVE way and I am forever grateful. My husband refers to her as the "sex doctor" so you can only imagine how happy he is with my therapy outcome.

After the birth of my son I suffered from "Vaginismus", however, at the time I just thought I was broken. My "broken vagina" affected me physically but it was an emotional struggle as well. Many women in my life also suffered with pain from sex after their babies were born so I knew I wasn't alone. They told me they "just got used to it" but I couldn't see myself living that way.

Sex wasn't just painful, it was literally impossible - IT DIDNT FIT!

Read more: Testimonial by Rosanna R.,...

Our
Locations

Beverly Hills:

9012 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Telephone: (310) 871-9554

The Beverly Hills office is convenient to Mid-Wilshire, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Beverlywood, Korea Town, Downtown LA, Culver City, Century City, Santa Monica and Malibu.

Hours:

Monday 12:00-5:00
Tuesday 7:00-6:00
Wednesday CALL
Thursday 2:00-6:00
Friday 7:00-6:00

Pasadena:

350 S. Lake Avenue #220
Pasadena, Ca 91101

Telephone: (818) 873-1403

Our Pasadena location is convenient to Glendale, Montrose, Burbank, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, and Eagle Rock.

Hours:

Monday 7:00-6:00
Tuesday 7:00-4:00
Wednesday CALL
Thursday 7:00-4:00
Friday CALL

Sherman Oaks:

13425 Ventura Blvd. Suite 200
Sherman Oaks, California 91423

Telephone: (818) 877-6910

The Sherman Oaks office is adjacent to Studio City and serves the Bel Air, Brentwood, West LA, Mulholland, Beverly Hills, Encino, Calabasas and San Fernando Valley area.

Hours:

Monday 7:30-6:00
Tuesday 7:00-6:00
Wednesday 7:00-6:00
Thursday 8:00-6:00
Friday 7:00-6:00