A to-be mother’s body goes through several changes during pregnancy. Though it is not fair to blame every symptom or outburst in pregnancy on this potent cocktail of chemicals surely, they are majorly responsible for this. Much of what’s your body going through – both good and not so good – can be charged on them. Prenatal yoga is the best solution to create a balance between these hormonal changes to reduce the bad and enhance the good effects of these chemical changes.
Certain hormones are responsible to soften your uterine lining making it easier for your baby to grow, few of them cause you anxiety, while some others trigger your breasts to produce milk, some of them cause your emotional breakdown, others are known to form the baby’s bones, on other hand some causes inflammation, dry skin, etc. The list is very long. Here our prenatal care specialists at Shwet Yoga Pregnafit are discussing the prominent pregnancy hormones and prenatal yoga poses helpful in dealing with their effects on the body.
Pregnancy hormones and prenatal yoga remedies to balance them
1. Estrogen
Estrogen is the main female hormone contributing to the growth of breasts, regulating the menstrual cycle, keeping bone healthy, and cholesterol under control. Along with progesterone, estrogen helps the uterus to grow, maintain the uterine lining, and develop the baby’s organs. It promotes the growth of breast tissues and milk flow. At the same time excess can cause blood rush to the skin causing red, itchy complexion, hyperpigmentation, darker nipples, and dark patches on the nose, cheeks, and forehead.
Prenatal yoga poses – Try modified Head to knee pose, Cobra pose, and Seated forward bend to balance estrogen levels in the body.
2. Progesterone
Progesterone along with estrogen is one of the big two sex hormones. It is responsible for regular ovulation helpful in conceiving. And after conceiving, it is a major cause of heartburn, indigestion, and constipation. It also helps to soften the ligaments and joints to prepare for childbirth. It can also cause your gums to swell, bleed, skin to break out, or make you feel super sweaty.
Prenatal yoga poses – Thunderbolt or diamond pose, Cat-Cow pose is really helpful to deal with these symptoms.
3. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
These hormones are produced just during pregnancy. It amps the production of estrogen and progesterone. In the early stage of pregnancy, its level is low, but soon it rises at a double rate every two days. It peaks up at 7 to 12 weeks and then it starts to fall back at the start of the second trimester. It affects the immune system, making you more vulnerable to cold and cough.
Prenatal yoga poses – Legs up the wall pose, Supported bridge pose are very useful to boost the immunity of an expectant mother.
4. Prolactine
This is the main milk-producing hormone. It helps to enlarge your breast and produce the milk you will be feeding to your baby after its birth. At the same time, it also charges up adrenal glands to trigger new hair growth in unexpected and unwanted places which usually subsides around six months postpartum.
Prenatal yoga poses – Camel pose, Mindful meditation are the best way to maintain this hormone in the body.
5. Relaxin and Oxytocin
Both hormones are responsible for the relaxation of muscles, bones, and ligaments, stimulating labor contractions, and help in easy childbirth. Oxytocin also helps to shrink the uterus in size after the delivery. Relaxin helps you to feel more balanced and wobblier while walking.
Prenatal yoga poses – Easy pose, Supine side stretch, Warrior pose, Butterfly pose are some useful poses.
6. Thyroxine
Thyroid hormone increases the expectant mother’s oxygen consumption, helpful in stimulating the growth hormones to regulate normal fetal growth. It is an essential hormone used in the development of the baby’s central nervous system. Irregular production of thyroxine is known to cause conditions like hypo or hyperthyroidism causing irregular growth of the fetus, even premature childbirth.
Prenatal yoga poses – Camel pose, Cat-Cow pose, Bridge poses stimulate the thyroid gland and keep the production of thyroxine at optimum levels.
Even after labor and delivery, your body is dealing with a lot of hormone production for recovery. There are separate practices to counter the post-partum changes in the body after childbirth. Contact us know more details about pre and post-natal pregnancy care.