A pregnant woman’s health is affected a lot by the hormones produced during the pregnancy. The hormones can make you teary eye or even leave you with a bad memory. The good news is that once you deliver, you will normally return to your old self again. Below are the five major hormones that play an important role during your pregnancy.

Progesterone

This hormone relaxes the muscle in the womb and also stimulates the growth of the breast tissue. This hormone will cause you to feel tired and bloated. It also causes breast tenderness, hip pain and acid reflux. You will begin to feel the effects from the beginning of pregnancy until before birth. The good news is that your energy levels will pick up in the second trimester.

Estrogen

Estrogen helps the fetus and your milk glands to develop. It gives you that special glow but it heightens your emotions as well as your sense of smell. If you suddenly sense that you are being too emotional over something, blame it on this hormone. The placenta will continue to produce this hormone throughout the pregnancy period but it will be less severe from the second trimester.

Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin

HCG assists in maintaining the levels of the two hormones above. This hormone causes morning sickness and makes you want to visit the loo often. The levels are high in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Relaxin

Relaxin affects your joints and helps to soften your cervix and ligaments to accommodate the baby’s progressive growth. During pregnancy, this hormone is 10 times more concentrated in the body. The bad thing is that it also affects other joints in the body and may be one of the main reason for your back pain.

Oxytocin

During labor, this hormone helps with your contractions and to start the milk production. It also induces bonding with your newborn. The levels fall off right after the delivery of the baby.

Prolactin

This hormone is present throughout the duration of your pregnancy and prepares your body for breastfeeding. It will be present even two weeks after birth as your breastfeeding will ensure continuous production of this hormone. At the same time, it helps to suppress menstruation.

photo credit: Shooting Nouns

After giving birth, women have to start thinking of a suitable birth control method or contraceptive. Although the options are many, not all may be suitable for you. Below are four common questions that women have regarding birth control which can help to guide you to make the correct choice.

Q: What is a safe method to use while I am breastfeeding my baby?

Women who are breastfeeding should avoid the Patch and the Ring that deliver hormones into the blood stream as well as birth-control pills that contain estrogen and progestin. All these can affect your milk supply.

The alternative is to take the “mini-Pill” (e.g. Micronor) or to use an intrauterine contraceptive like a diaphragm, sponge, cervical cap or condom.

photo credit: Raphael Goetter

Q: I would like to have another baby quite soon and would like to choose a suitable method that does not affect my chances of conceiving. What is a suitable choice?

You can apply the normal birth control methods except Depo-Provera which can delay or affect your fertility for a longer period.

Q: I would like to have a long-term contraceptive but I do not want it to be permanent. What is the recommended method?

An intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) is suitable, for example the Mirena IUC and ParaGard. Another option is the Implanon which is a matchstick-size rod that is implanted on your arm, just under the skin.

Q: Is it safe for women over 36 years old to take hormonal birth control?

It is safe as long as you do not smoke and do not have a heart disease problem. Research shows that taking the Pill gives protection against ovarian cysts and ovarian, uterine and colorectal cancers.

Most of us know that the placenta is an important organ connecting the baby to the mother while still in the womb. Its main role is to provide nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the baby. In addition, it also removes waste from the baby to the mother.

If that is not amazing enough, below are 8 more interesting facts about your body’s ‘disposable’ organ:

• The placenta produces pregnancy hormones, for example the “human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)” in the early days of pregnancy. The hormones estrogen and progesterone assist in building up the lining of the womb to provide a cushion for the baby.

• It is important to have a good diet and a healthy lifestyle. Smoking is also strongly discouraged to ensure a good blood supply through the placenta.

• An average placenta will weigh about 0.5 Kg. The bigger the baby means a bigger placenta. The placenta is formed at conception and develops along with the baby.

• A good position for the placenta to implant and grow is at the top portion of the uterus. However, it is not unusual to find it at the low portion in the early part of the pregnancy.

• The placenta is naturally expelled from the womb after birth. The hormone oxytoxin assists contract the womb and to stop any postnatal bleeding.

• In the Chinese culture, some carry out the practice of burying the placenta in the ground honoring the new life brought into the world. It is also believed that the placenta should be buried near the birthplace for reincarnation purposes.

• The placenta can also be consumed as it contains good nutrients like minerals, iron and zinc. In addition, it is supposed to clear away any post-partum depression and helps the mother recover faster. The preparation may involve drying and baking the placenta before it is grinded into powder form.

• The placenta may also be used for cosmetic purposes just like the popular sheep placenta.

I hope you have learned something new about the placenta after reading the facts above.