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This is what happens to your hormones during pregnancy

This is what happens to your hormones during pregnancy

by Naïf in Blog

It's not entirely unknown that you can suddenly become forgetful during your pregnancy. Or nauseous, dizzy, irritable. "Hormones"... we say then. But what exactly do those pregnancy hormones do? We'll explain it to you step by step.

hCG

This is where it starts (hey that rhymes). This hormone is measured in the pregnancy test. After a fertilized egg implants, a signal is sent to the fallopian tubes to stop the production of new eggs. hCG maintains the production of progesterone, but also converts fat into energy. So the baby can start to grow.

Pregnancy complaints you can thank this hormone for are: nausea, fatigue, tender breasts, headaches, mood swings and dizziness.

Estrogen

Also known as the female sex hormone. Every woman is born with it and it stimulates the development of the female body, such as your breasts, genitals, but also your menstrual cycle. During pregnancy, estrogen is responsible for:

  • Promoting fertilization

  • Optimizing the uterine lining, so the fetus can implant

  • Making the body more flexible to create space for the baby

Pregnancy complaints you can thank this hormone for are: mood swings, nausea, pregnancy mask (pigment), stretch marks and varicose veins (because making the body more flexible), increased appetite and low libido.

Progesterone

This hormone is the counterpart of estrogen and keeps things in balance. A kind of yin/yang then. This hormone is also found in the contraceptive pill, which means there is more 'yin' and thus the 'yang' (in this case fertility) is suppressed. During your pregnancy it does the following:

  • It ensures that the embryo is not rejected in the body

  • Stimulates the development of the mucus plug, which seals your uterine wall during pregnancy to protect your baby

  • It ensures that the baby receives nutrition through the glands from the cervix, as long as the placenta is not yet 'finished'.

Pregnancy complaints you can thank this hormone for are: uh.. what was it again? Oh yes, pregnancy brain fog. Also heartburn, dizziness, fatigue and frequent urination comes from the production of progesterone.

Beauty Boost

Some women notice that their skin glows more during pregnancy. Also called the 'glow'. It may also be that your hair suddenly becomes fuller and shinier. Not only do the above hormones ensure that a child actually grows in your belly and gets everything it needs. It also provides an instant beauty boost. Your skin is well supplied with blood, because your body creates energy for 2 (or 3, or 4, depending on what you have in your belly). In that case, we'll gladly accept those pregnancy complaints, right?

Happy hormones, happy life

Mother Nature is doing her thing nicely and we don't want to get in the way. We try to take care of ourselves as best we can and we'd like to help you with that, even during pregnancy. That's why we developed a pregnancy line with illustrations by Josselin Bijl. A Pregnancy Belly Balm, enriched with shea butter and grape seed oil and a Body Oil for delightful belly massages. Naïf Pregnancy Line, available from March on naifcare.com.

By: Eliza van der Laan

Tags: Pregnancy
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