By Design: How Your Hormones are Actually Doing you a Favor

I coached a beautiful mom today who was feeling frustrated with her pregnancy hormones. She used terms like "they're going haywire" and "messing with me".

It can be uncomfortable when our hormones are surging and crashing within us, and we have emotional responses we can't predict or control. If we seek to understand what they're doing within us and why, we'll feel more confidence and peace.

Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash

When I became a certified postpartum doula, part of the reading was the EXCELLENT book, The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson. It was then that I realized that every hormone has a job, a purpose. And that me getting mad that I had them was just a waste of energy.




How Hormones Prepare and Fuel Us Through Birth

I made a chart comparing hormones that are high during the end of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum to help visualize what is going on and why. In her book, Kimberly Ann Johnson categorizes these hormones as "Sex Hormones" and "Stress Hormones".





What Hormones are Doing For the First Part of Pregnancy

But today, as I spoke with my client who is currently in her first trimester, I wondered about the hormones she, and so many women in their first and second trimesters, are experiencing. So after my research, here's a breakdown of what your hormones are doing, what you may be feeling, and why.

The Announcer

One of the first hormones you'll experience in pregnancy is, hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) or the “pregnancy announcer.” It tells your body, Yes, we’re really doing this! and keeps progesterone high until the placenta takes over. It’s also the reason many moms feel nauseous in the first trimester. It’s frustrating, but it’s your body working hard to secure the pregnancy.

The Protector

Then comes progesterone, the calmer. It keeps your uterus relaxed so the baby can grow safely. High progesterone is also why you might feel extra tired or foggy in the beginning. Your body is reminding you, Slow down, rest, you've got precious cargo.

The Builder

Meanwhile, estrogen is steadily rising. This is the builder hormone: it grows the uterus, increases blood flow, and even helps you feel more vibrant and energized in the second trimester (not everyone feels great, but some do).

The Space Creator

Relaxin is also part of the mix: the stretcher. It softens joints and ligaments, making space for your growing baby and eventually, for birth. Emotionally, you may notice feeling a little less steady or clumsier. We could be mad about this, feel embarrassed or mocked for "waddling about", or we could see this as our bodies creating space for the miracle that is soon to happen: birth.

If we can have faith that Somebody who understands all things made us, we can appreciate this intentional combination of hormones which creates the ideal setting for growing and birthing a baby.




What about my emotions? They feel out of control!

Even if you didn't have any different level of hormones within you, it would be completely understandable and normal to be experiencing a lot of emotions.

Emotions are released directly from our thoughts. And you are most likely having so many thoughts like:

😊I'm so excited to be a mom and have a baby of my own!

😓What if I'm not a good enough mom?

😕What have I gotten myself into? This is a LOT of responsibility!

😨What if something goes seriously wrong? How will I cope?!

😒I don't like what that stranger just said about my body. I don't like having my tummy touched or have unsolicited advice thrown at me.

😖I feel uncomfortable. I feel bloated. This isn't me.

😫I'm more tired and worn out than ever. How will I possibly have the energy to care for my baby?

🤨I should feel grateful I got pregnant, but this is so hard. Sometimes I wish I just felt better right now.

😊Also I'm grateful and excited and things are wonderful...

😭Also I'm scared and stressed and oh my goodness I feel so much love for this new baby.

If I missed anything, send me a DM or email and let me know how YOU're feeling. 💕




So let me just remind you. Even if your hormones were totally "behaving" like you'd want and not affecting your emotions, you would still have a lot of emotions because you're having a lot of thoughts like these!

Please, along with your prenatal vitamin, take a big dose of self compassion. Of loving yourself exactly where you're at right now.

If you want somebody to hear your specific situation and hold your hand through it, I've got you. Just DM me on instagram (@douladiane) or email me at holdthemom@gmail.com and we can try out a free coaching session.

Til next week, my friend. Be a little more patient with your hormones. They are all by design. They are doing their jobs. And you, even as you feel so many things, are doing yours. Well done, and THANK YOU for how you are nurturing your sweet baby.

💕Diane

You can learn more about hormones here: 
Evidence Based Birth®: The Hormones of Labor
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): Postpartum Care
National Institutes of Health (NIH): Hormones in Pregnancy
Uvnäs Moberg, Kerstin. The Oxytocin Factor: Tapping the Hormone of Calm, Love, and Healing.
Johnson, Kimberley Ann. The Fourth Trimester