Articles

Key takeaways

• Hormones are natural chemicals that manage your pregnancy.
• Key hormones include hCG, progesterone, and oestrogen.
• Hormonal changes cause common pregnancy symptoms like nausea.
• Managing symptoms involves rest, diet, and seeking support.

What are pregnancy hormones?

Hormones are natural chemicals that help your body manage your pregnancy. They prepare your body for birth and for producing milk for your baby. These hormones work together in complex ways throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

During your pregnancy, these hormones are hard at work supporting your pregnancy and your baby's development.

The key hormonal players and their jobs

Several hormones play crucial roles during pregnancy. They each have specific jobs to help your body and your baby.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)

A key hormone your body makes during pregnancy is called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). This hormone is released from early pregnancy, and is the one detected in pregnancy tests to confirm your pregnancy.

The placenta releases hCG, which tells your ovaries to increase their production of oestrogen and progesterone. Levels of hCG peak around 9 weeks of pregnancy.

Progesterone

Progesterone is another key hormone for pregnancy. It plays an important role in maintaining the pregnancy in the early stages by helping the lining of your womb to grow thick and healthy.

It signals the lining to meet your baby's nutritional needs until the placenta takes over at 8 to 12 weeks. This hormone also prevents the release of further eggs.

Progesterone and relaxin strengthen the womb to allow it to stretch and grow with the pregnancy. Progesterone plays a key role in supporting a healthy pregnancy and helping you carry your baby to full term. In some cases, your doctor or midwife might give you a man-made version of progesterone if there's a chance you could go into labour too early.

Oestrogen

Oestrogen is a hormone that plays another key role in pregnancy. Oestrogen develops the baby's internal organs. Oestrogen, progesterone, and relaxin together support the growth of the placenta.

Oestrogen helps your body manage pain during labour and birth. It also helps your womb respond to another hormone, oxytocin, during labour.

Relaxin, oestrogen, and oxytocin are involved in preparing your body for birth. Other hormone-like substances, such as prostaglandins, also work to soften your cervix and vagina over several weeks.

Oestrogen levels increase a lot throughout pregnancy. They peak in the third trimester before dropping after your baby is born.

Relaxin

Relaxin is often called the relaxing hormone. It works on your muscles and ligaments, allowing your body to grow with your developing baby. This can sometimes cause discomfort across your body.

Relaxin signals changes in your body to meet the increased oxygen and nutrients needed for the growing baby. It softens the pelvic ligaments so your pelvis can open.

The hormone relaxin loosens your ligaments. This leaves your back, knees, and ankles without their usual support. Pain in the joints around your pelvis (pelvic girdle pain, or PGP) usually happens in pregnancy due to relaxin softening the ligaments in your body.

Prolactin

Prolactin is a hormone involved with caregiving and milk production. Prolactin helps your body to make milk, which your breasts start storing from around four months of pregnancy.

Prolactin and oxytocin work together to produce milk and the release of milk.

Common side effects of hormonal changes

Emotional changes

The levels of oestrogen and progesterone increase a lot in your body during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. These hormones can make you feel more emotional than normal.

You may find that you are laughing one minute, then crying the next. This is natural whilst your body tries to balance the two.

You may suddenly become more sensitive to certain smells. You might also have a strange metallic taste in your mouth.

These changes are common in early pregnancy. Sometimes, this can cause you to go off certain foods you used to enjoy.

Sickness and fatigue

Many people feel sick or are sick in early pregnancy. This is commonly known as morning sickness, but it can happen at any time of the day. Most people start noticing this around 4 to 6 weeks into their pregnancy.

It is common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy. This is especially true during the first 12 weeks, but can be longer.

Hormonal changes in your body that cause feeling tired, sick, and emotional. You may feel completely drained after a normal day's activities.

Breast changes

Your breasts may become larger and feel tender. They may also tingle. The veins may be more visible, and the nipples may darken and stand out. Your breasts may also feel heavier. Many of these changes are because of the extra hormones in your body and the growth of the milk ducts.

Tips for managing hormonal symptoms

There are several ways to help manage the common symptoms caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy.

Managing morning sickness

Morning sickness can happen at any time of day, though it is often worse when you first wake up.

• Keep a snack by your bed.
• Eat six small meals a day.
• Get lots of rest.
• Follow a balanced, healthy diet.
• Some people find that ginger helps. Try ginger tea, ginger ale, or ginger biscuits.
• Others say sucking ice cubes and wearing travel acupressure wristbands helps.
• It may help to eat bland foods. Try bland foods like jacket potatoes, pasta, or toast.
• Remember to drink plenty of water.
• You can get antacids from your pharmacist if you are experiencing heartburn or acid reflux.
• Your GP can prescribe anti-sickness tablets if you need them.

Tender breasts

Wearing a comfortable, non wired bra and loose clothing. You may need to go up a size or two in the chest and back area. This is to accommodate your expanding likely larger breasts and expanding ribcage.

Nipple sensitivity can also increase during pregnancy. This is very normal.

Seeking support for your emotional well-being

Support from family and friends can help, especially if you are struggling with difficult symptoms like pregnancy sickness. If you find that you feel down, you should speak to your healthcare professional.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) notes that for some, severe sickness can lead to depression. This may require extra support like counselling.