The Postpartum Hormone Crash: What To Expect & How To Take Charge Of Your Hormonal Health

During pregnancy, your estrogen and progesterone levels are at an all-time high. In fact, ​​you will produce more estrogen during one pregnancy than throughout your entire life when not pregnant!

Estrogen is the hormone that supports baby’s development, transfers nutrients, and is also thought to help baby develop and mature. Progesterone facilitates a loosening of ligaments and joints throughout the body and helps the uterus get bigger to make room for baby as they grow. Pretty amazing stuff.

But what happens after you’ve given birth? Those hormones don’t stick around forever. So today, we’re talking about the postpartum hormone crash – what exactly happens, how long it lasts, and why taking notice of hormonal changes now can help you feel better as you age.

What is the postpartum hormone crash? 

So, your hormones were at an all-time high during pregnancy, but within hours of giving birth, your estrogen and progesterone levels will begin to drop suddenly and that’s what’s known as the postpartum hormone crash.

Here’s what happens with your hormones after labor: 

• Progesterone and estrogen decrease as soon as baby and placenta are delivered and this fall in hormones actually helps to facilitate the production of colostrum, baby’s first milk. 

• Endorphins surge the first time you see your baby, and you’ll feel a high of emotions.

• Oxytocin – the hormone responsible for the strong parental instinct which kicks in after birth – surges to compensate for the crash in progesterone and estrogen, but will also work its way out of your system. 

• Prolactin also increases after birth, the hormone that helps produce breastmilk.

These hormones will continue to drop and change for the first week or so of postpartum, which can leave you feeling… well all sorts of ways.

How could the postpartum hormone crash impact me? 

One of the big things to happen as a result of progesterone and estrogen levels crashing during postpartum is the “baby blues”. The baby blues is a term often used to describe feeling down or low in the weeks after birth.

Symptoms of the baby blues could include:

• Mood swings

• Anxiety

• Sadness

• Irritability

Symptoms of the baby blues usually resolve in a week or two after giving birth. Symptoms that persist longer than 2-3 weeks after birth or are severely impacting your daily life could be signs of postpartum depression. Find out more about the baby blues and postpartum depression from Baby2Body Founder and CEO Melinda Nicci: 

When will my hormones go back to normal after postpartum? 

Every woman is different, and every experience is different. At around 8 weeks postpartum, you may notice that your hormones start to regulate but that doesn’t mean you’ll feel “back to normal”. Having a newborn is exhausting and overwhelming at times – even if your hormones are balanced! Stress & lack of sleep can also cause an increase in your stress-response hormone, cortisol — in turn, melatonin and serotonin levels will decrease which can negatively impact your mood. 

By around month 6, progesterone and estrogen should be back to pre-pregnancy levels but women who are breastfeeding may find that their hormones take a little longer to return to normal. Remember that hormones like relaxin, which loosens your muscles to prepare for pregnancy and labor, can stay in the body for up to 12 months post-birth (that’s why warming up and cooling down are so important at this time!). 

Signs of postpartum hormonal imbalance:

• Low mood or depression 

• Anxiety 

• Low libido 

• Long term tiredness 

• Cysts or fibroids 

• Weight gain 

If you are suffering from postpartum hormonal imbalance, we recommend checking in with your doctor. Regular exercise (after your 6 week postpartum check), a nutrient-rich diet, and getting enough sleep can help – we know all of this can be difficult with a newborn, but ask for support from friends and family when you can. 

How to take care of your hormonal health in postpartum and as you age

The postpartum period is a really great time to get in touch with how your hormones impact you – physically and emotionally. As women, our hormones play a critical role in how we function and think, and whilst the impact of these hormones may be more noticeable during postpartum, hormonal changes will impact you at every age and every stage. 

Tracking these physical and emotional symptoms as part of your daily life can help you better understand your body, your triggers, and what helps you feel your best.

That’s where our sister app MBODY comes in. MBODY is a woman's guide to healthy hormones and a happier, more vibrant life and is for all women who want to understand their hormones and optimize their wellness in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.

Here's what you can expect from MBODY:

• Daily tips to help understand your hormone fluctuations as you age

• A smart symptom tracker to help you identify how your hormones might be out of balance

• Your top 5 recommended activities every day, in line with your wellness goals

• 100’s of hormone healthy recipes, energizing workouts, and stress reducing tools

• Cycle tracking and integrated calendar view to monitor trends in how you’re feeling

Find out more here & check out our Baby2Body Instagram this week – where MBODY is taking over to share everything you need to know about your hormones at every age and every stage. Even if you’re not ready for MBODY right now we bet someone you know is and could benefit massively from the personalized support that MBODY provides. 

Tried MBODY already? Want to know more about your hormonal health? Let us know in the comments! 

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