Hormones affect the mental, physical, and emotional health of individuals. Postpartum hormonal changes refer to the imbalance of hormones in women after giving birth, affecting both their physical and mental well-being. This is a physiological process. If there are no risk factors and the mother is well taken care of, usually after about 6-8 weeks, the mother’s body will gradually adjust back to its pre-pregnancy state.
Causes:
Due to the sudden change in hormone levels in the mother’s body after childbirth compared to the pregnancy period. Specifically:
During pregnancy, the fetus (placenta and fetal membranes) secretes “fetal hormones” that play an important role in the implantation, development, and maturation of the fetus. The production of these “fetal hormones” is closely related to the mother’s body. The mother’s body adapts to these hormonal changes and creates the best conditions for the fetus’s development.
At the time of childbirth, the levels of these “fetal hormones” drop significantly (especially the hormones progesterone and estrogen), causing some uncomfortable symptoms in the mother after giving birth.
Identification:
Hot flashes: The mother feels heat in the face, chest, and upper body, redness of the skin, excessive sweating, palpitations, dizziness, blackout, shortness of breath, and a feeling of suffocation. The cause may be due to a drop in estrogen levels in the early postpartum period and decreased estrogen production due to increased prolactin during breastfeeding, leading to thermoregulation dysfunction.
Migraines: The rapid decrease in estrogen levels after childbirth is one of the possible causes of migraines in sensitive women.
Hair loss: Postpartum hair loss is classified as non-scarring, reversible hair loss. The sudden drop in estrogen levels causes hair follicles to abruptly enter the resting phase, leading to massive hair shedding. This is a temporary condition, and the time for hair regrowth depends on the individual’s constitution and the nutritional status of the mother after childbirth.
Postpartum blues (or baby blues): Within 2-3 days after giving birth, the mother often experiences mood swings, irritability, or anxiety, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, and frequent crying. Postpartum hormonal changes are one of the causes of this condition. These symptoms are not severe and usually disappear within 2 weeks. However, in mothers with many risk factors, it can lead to postpartum depression—a much more serious pathological condition than postpartum blues.
Decreased libido: Estrogen plays an important role in stimulating sexual desire in women. The rapid drop in estrogen levels after childbirth and the reduced estrogen production due to increased prolactin during breastfeeding are the main reasons why most women experience decreased libido postpartum.
Management:
Postpartum hormonal changes are a physiological condition. However, to minimize the discomfort caused by these changes and help quickly balance hormones postpartum, the following methods can be applied:
Allocate enough time for rest and adequate sleep. Importantly, do not put too much pressure on yourself with childcare, and be ready to seek and accept help from others.
Regular exercise releases endorphins in the body, which helps improve mood and reduce stress for the mother, contributing to alleviating postpartum blues.
A healthy diet ensures the mother’s health for continuing her maternal role, daily activities, and milk production if breastfeeding: Ensure an additional energy intake of about 500 kcal/day, with diverse, easy-to-digest, and nutrient-rich foods, especially proteins, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Meals should be divided into several portions throughout the day (3-6 meals/day). Specifically, the mother should drink enough water (about 2.5-3 liters/day).
Vitamin and mineral supplementation: Multivitamin supplements can be used when it is not possible to provide enough micronutrients through diet, along with sun exposure (eating habits, food processing procedures, etc., can deplete most of the vitamins in food). However, it is important to consult a doctor before taking any medications or vitamins during breastfeeding to avoid any adverse effects on the newborn.
Specialist level 2 doctor. Nguyen Chi Thanh
References:
- Đỗ Trung Quân (2013), Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Vietnam Education Publishing House.
- National Guidelines on Nutrition for Pregnant Women and Breastfeeding Mothers (Decision No. 776/QĐ-BYT dated March 8, 2017, by the Ministry of Health).
- Overview of the postpartum period: Normal physiology and routine maternal care – UpToDate. Accessed: June 20, 2024.
- Estrogen-associated migraine headache, including menstrual migraine – UpToDate. Accessed: June 20, 2024.
- Postnatal depression – BMJ Best Practice. Accessed: May 15, 2024.
