Believe it or not, I was once a new mom! Okay okay, I realize that technically, I’m still a new mom considering my kids are only 19 months old. However, my skin (and my body!) are very different now than they were during the postpartum period. So, in terms of skincare, I don’t fit into the new mom category anymore. 
New motherhood is tough. It’s tough on the body and the mind. While we’re talking about the body, let’s talk about skin too. Did you know that hormonal changes during the postpartum period can have catastrophic effects on the skin?
If not, then boy are you in for a treat! Can you sense the sarcasm there?
Before we even talk about hormones and skin, let’s talk a little bit about what postpartum means.
According to Merriam-Webster, the definitions of postpartum are:
Now, to complicate matters, the definition of the time frame of the postpartum period varies depending on the source.
For example, About Kids Health states that “The postpartum period is commonly defined as the six weeks after childbirth.”
However, according to this article in the Journal of Prenatal Medicine, the postpartum period is made of 3 distinct phases:
Taking into account that the postpartum period is defined so variably from source to source, let’s talk about the hormonal changes during the postpartum period; until one year post childbirth.
First off, to review the hormones that are involved in (pregnancy), click here.
After giving birth, a significant amount of hormonal changes take place, primarily the dramatic drop in Estrogen & Progesterone, but also the rapid increase in Prolactin, Cortisol, and Oxytocin, as demonstrated in the graphs below. Let’s break down each hormone in a little more detail, shall we?
I want to start with Progesterone because it is most prolific during pregnancy and then drops off dramatically after birth. As I described in my last post, Progesterone’s job is to maintain the uterine lining to keep it thick enough for embryo implantation. Once pregnancy occurs, progesterone continues to be produced to maintain the thickness of the uterus and support the growth of the embryo, while the placenta is growing and being established. It is produced by the ovaries prior to pregnancy, and then by the placenta during pregnancy.
Like Progesterone, Estrogen contributes to uterine lining thickness. It also helps with uterine growth, and triggering the development of the fetus’ organs. Estrogen is initially produced by the ovaries, but as pregnancy occurs, begins production within the placenta.
Unlike Progesterone and Estrogen, Prolactin is produced in the pituitary gland. The main purpose, or function, of Prolactin is to promote breast tissue growth and milk production in the breasts both during pregnancy and after birth. As you can see in the graph below, Prolactin levels are relatively low during pregnancy and then spike after birth. In the bottom graph, in more detail, you can see that Prolactin spikes and dips in coordination with breastfeeding. Each time the baby nurses, the level of Prolactin spikes immediately following, and then dips. Essentially, this spike and dip are the body producing breastmilk between nursing sessions so that it’s ready to release into the milk ducts the next time the baby latches.
Cortisol, better known as the stress hormone, is produced in the adrenal glands, though production is triggered by the pituitary gland. It slowly increases throughout pregnancy, and then surges just before and during labor and birth. According to yourhormones.info, this rise in Cortisol may help the fetal organs mature just before labour begins, and influence the timing of birth.
Oxytocin is produced by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland. It is the primary hormone involved in childbirth. Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions, which triggers labor. After birth, Oxytocin plays an additional role in lactation, by moving milk into the breast. During breastfeeding, Oxytocin is released, causing the milk to eject out of the breast. When the baby stops the feeding, Oxytocin production stops until the next feeding.
Maguire, Jamie. Postpartum Hormones Graph. ScienceDirect Chapter 12 – Hormonal and immunological factors in postpartum psychosis, Editor(s): Jennifer L. Payne, Lauren M. Osborne, Biomarkers of Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Academic Press, 2020, Pages 159-179, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815508-0.00012-6. Accessed 1/4/2021.
St-Jacques, René. “Hormonal changes associated to pregnancy, childbirth, and return of the menstrual cycle.” MyHumanBody.ca http://www.corpshumain.ca/en/NouvelleVie_en.php Accessed 1/2/2021
Kohl, J., Autry, A.E. and Dulac, C. (2017), The neurobiology of parenting: A neural circuit perspective. BioEssays, 39: 1-11 e201600159. https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201600159 Accessed 1/2/2021
So now that you know all of the things that can happen to skin during the postpartum period, thanks to extreme hormone fluctuations, what can you do protect your skin?
This is a 2 part answer:
HOWEVER…
Hormonal changes are part of the reproduction process, both before, during, and after pregnancy. There’s no way to prevent postpartum hormonal skin changes from occurring, but there’s a lot you can do to stay on top of your skin care routine to prevent these issues from worsening.
Cara B. Drescher is a Certified Integrative Wellness Life Coach & Holistic Health Coach, Licensed & Board Certified Massage Therapist, Licensed Esthetician, & Nationally Certified Continuing Educator Provider with 19+ years of experience. With specialized training and experience in infertility, pregnancy, & postpartum bodywork, skincare, and mental health, Cara’s approach is one of compassion and empathy.
Cara is also a former infertility warrior and now mama to twin toddlers after 3 years and 14 fertility treatment cycles, a complicated triplet pregnancy, and a difficult postpartum recovery. With her personal and professional expertise, she brings a unique approach to wellness during infertility and beyond.
