During every pregnancy, the body forms its own new organ: the placenta. From around the tenth week of pregnancy, the placenta begins (among its other functions) to independently produce estrogen, a female sex hormone, and progesterone, which is needed for conception and later for maintaining the pregnancy.
After your child is born, the placenta is born and the hormone levels of estrogen and progesterone drop rapidly. As a result of this hormonal change, your uterus shrinks, milk production is stimulated and psychological reactions can occur, which we also know as crying days or baby blues .
The contraction of the uterus and milk production are the major physical changes in the postpartum period. However, other symptoms can also occur that can be attributed to the changed hormonal balance in the postpartum period - but these are rarely talked about. We want to change that:
Hair loss after childbirth
Many pregnant women report that their hair has become shinier, thicker and stronger than ever before during pregnancy. This is due, among other things, to the hormone estrogen, which is present in significantly higher concentrations during pregnancy than in other phases of life. It promotes the growth of the placenta, ensures a well-functioning cardiovascular system in the woman and child, and can also have a positive effect on the skin and hair structure, especially through better blood circulation.
The sharp drop in estrogen after birth and the change in hormone levels during potential breastfeeding phases (when a full cycle usually hasn't started yet) can lead to hair loss. This can be more or less pronounced, but in some cases it can be so severe that you fear you're going to lose all your hair (but that doesn't happen). This postpartum effluvium or increased hair loss during the postpartum period can sometimes be frightening because of its severity, but in most cases it goes away once hormone levels have stabilized - and often once menstruation starts again - and the hair grows back.
Heavy sweating in the postpartum period
During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone ensures, among other things, that expanded blood vessels can now distribute the larger amount of blood well. However, greater elasticity also means that more water enters your tissue, which leads to the typical water retention during pregnancy.
During the postpartum period, progesterone levels drop significantly. As a result, the blood vessels constrict again and water is transported from your tissue back into the blood. This large amount of fluid is then flushed out through two functions: heavy sweating and a lot of peeing. It can happen that women sweat so much that they have to change their clothes several times a night during the postpartum period - this is completely normal. And if you are not yet able to really feel how strong your urge to urinate is, it is recommended that you go to the toilet regularly even when you do not feel the urge to urinate, so that the urine does not build up due to the increased urine production.
In rare cases, heavy sweating can also be caused by fever during the postpartum period, which in turn can indicate an infection. If you suspect this, it is best to measure your temperature regularly and seek advice from your postpartum midwife or gynecologist.
