Child Birth Triggers Hormonal Shockwaves
Tired, Teary and feeling unwell? Than read on
Childbirth triggers hormonal changes that often go undetected in many women. Do you remember how you used to feel? You were happy and well, with steady energy and emotions. You slept soundly and woke up feeling rested. Your recovery from illness was fast. You maintained a healthy weight without dieting. Now your energy lags during the day, you feel emotionally unbalanced and you sleep poorly. You can't lose excess weight even while dieting. You use caffeine or carbohydrates as pick-me-ups.
Things instantly change when you have a baby and we are taught to expect that. But how things change often take women by surprise: the intensity of emotions, unexpected strains in marriage, a new connection with in-laws, and unintended disconnection from friends without children. All of these new circumstances require time and solitude to process, two luxuries new mothers rarely have.
Your body changes - forever. There are the obvious changes in breast & body shape, but most importantly your hormones change too.
Symptoms of hormonal imbalance include:
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Many chronic illnesses in new mothers go untreated, because symptoms are mistaken for common complaints of sleep-deprived parents. "Well, you just had a baby" can answer for a lot of problems, but sometimes there is more to the story.
But some women suffer more intense, longer-lasting postpartum troubles that can threaten their health - and these troubles may be directly related to the thyroid.
Postpartum thyroiditis is a condition in which the thyroid becomes inflamed and dysfunctional after delivery, due to antibodies.
Postpartum thyroiditis typically follows a pattern: at first, you become hyperthyroid, and might feel breathless, nervous, mentally confused, have unexplained weight loss, or trouble sleeping. This phase usually appears anytime between one and four months after the birth of the baby.
In the second phase, which usually shows up three to eight months postpartum, your body becomes hypothyroid. Symptoms of this stage might be depression, fatigue, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, and an enlarged thyroid gland or sensation of pressure in your neck. Sadly, blood tests don't always pick up a thyroid imbalance leaving you confused.
Your adrenals can change your body shape!
Life stages contribute greatly to stress levels especially the arrival of a new born baby, the sleepless nights, constant nappy changes and readjustments to family life mean you start to feel tired, frumpy and burnt out!
It is important to understand how stress affects your adrenals and ultimately your health. Adrenal Hypersensitivity simply means your adrenals have been, and perhaps still are, working over time.
"Your adrenal glands provide you with crucial hormonal support needed to get through the day with energy, enthusiasm and efficiency. Adrenal hypersensitivity means you are much more likely to suffer from fatigue, forgetfulness, mood swings and sleep disturbances. Living in the 'fast' world of today exposes you to unavoidable levels of stress - and with that stress comes elevated cortisol levels".
In its normal function, cortisol helps you meet these challenges by converting proteins into energy, releasing glycogen and counteracting inflammation. For a short time, that's okay. But at sustained high levels, cortisol gradually tears your body down.
Sustained high cortisol destroys healthy muscle and bone; slows down healing and normal cell replacement; co-opts biochemical's needed to make other vital hormones; impairs digestion, metabolism and mental function, weakens your immune system; and interferes with healthy endocrine function contributing to conditions such as heightened Menopause, Sub Fertility, Thyroid imbalance and ovarian imbalances such as PCOS, Fibroids & Endometriosis.
That Tummy Bulge!
One of cortisol's many functions is that it stimulates the release of glucose, fats and amino acids for energy production. It will also keep your appetite stimulated. In addition, the type of fat that accumulates because of this stress-induced appetite will typically locate itself in the abdominal region of your body. Stress contributes to weight gain primarily because of an excess secretion of the key stress hormone cortisol, along with a reduced secretion of the key hormone Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA. DHEA is a steroid hormone synthesised from cholesterol and secreted by your adrenal glands. It's time to value your health.
It is important to adopt and achieve a diet that supports your lifestyle - one that doesn't eliminate food groups but focuses on a formula that works for you! It should foster a passion in you to cook and take pleasure in food - choose flavorsome meals that are spirited and nourishing.
Dietary changes such as reducing MSG, excess sugars and cola drinks can greatly improve adrenal performance. Even the reduction of coffee and alcohol can substantially assist with a symptom like anxiety. Targeted nutrients prescribed by a practitioner, along with dietary changes can do wonders. Herbs such as Winter cherry, Licorice, Ginseng and the amino acid Tyrosine along with Vitamins B5 & B6 are well documented to support healthy adrenal function.
Remember, your health reflects the way you live - so isn't it time you started making some healthy changes?
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