What are pregnancy hormones?

They’ve carried the brunt of the blame for the rapid and massive changes that women go through during pregnancy. In fact, pregnancy hormones have been known to affect pregnant women not only physically but emotionally. As your belly bulges and your hormones rage, take comfort in knowing that some of the same nuisances that make you uncomfortable during pregnancy also benefit the health of the baby that you’ll deliver. Read on to find out more.

Progesterone

Although you produce significant amounts of progesterone up until menopause, levels of this hormone skyrocket during pregnancy and for a good reason. Progesterone helps prepare your reproductive system for sustaining a little life inside you. Normally, output of this hormone comes from the ovaries and adrenal glands, but during pregnancy, your developing placenta also produces it.

Once your ovaries have released an egg and it has been fertilized, the ovary will release progesterone to signal to the uterus that it is time to prepare for your baby. At this time, the lining of the uterus will become thicker.

Progesterone also stops the muscles of the uterus from contracting, preventing premature birth. This hormone also acts in the same way on smooth muscle found elsewhere in the body and can sometimes be the culprit of acid reflux.

hCG

Once you have an embryo, it begins to produce human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. This is the hormone sought out by pregnancy tests that will give either a positive or negative result. HCG works with the reproductive system to oversee production of other hormones. For example, immediately after conception it tells the ovaries to continue producing progesterone until the placenta can begin producing it, about 10 weeks into the pregnancy. HCG is often the reason women suffer from morning sickness and fatigue in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Estrogen

Estrogen, although it takes sort of a backseat during pregnancy compared with other life processes, is still an important hormone. Along with progesterone, it is created in the placenta during pregnancy. Like traffic police, this hormone will direct more blood flow to your developing baby. It also oversees the increased production of prolactin, which prepares your breasts for feeding after your baby is born. If you experience severe mood swings during your gestational phases, you can thank estrogen.

More Information about Natural Hormones:

Pregnancy is just one of the complex processes coordinated by your hormones. Other examples include menstruation and menopause. Click the following link to read more about natural hormones.