Having a baby should be one of the most enjoyable experiences in life. However, if your hormones are out of balance (which is often the case post-partum), then it can be difficult to cope, let alone enjoy the experience.
In this article, we’ll look at tips on how to rebalance your hormones naturally after childbirth. As an extra, you’ll find some helpful advice on losing that post-baby bump and getting back in shape in no time!
Pregnancy and your hormones
The entire process of pregnancy and childbirth is like cruising along the highway at 100 kilometres an hour and then crashing into a field. Your hormones go from 100 to zero very quickly and your body struggles to rebalance, especially if you’ve had hormonal issues in the past. The best way to correct this imbalance quickly is to work on the hormone control centre in your brain – the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis).
All women have this mechanism to balance their hormones in normal life. However, it becomes incredibly important post-partum to quickly get your hormones back into a state where you can manage your new bub without added fatigue, mood swings, or fluid retention. Better hormone balance after childbirth even allows the correct flow of milk production and the contraction of the uterus as it returns to its pre-pregnancy size.
If your hormones aren’t balanced, it can also be very hard to lose
the added belly fat you’ve accumulated during pregnancy.
Pre-labour
During pregnancy, taking a good prenatal formula with B vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids prevents any nutritional deficiencies and gives you the best chance of balancing your hormones after childbirth. Having a nutritious and clean diet is obviously important – this can also assist in balancing your hormones post-labour.
Even the diet you adhere to prior to conception is equally crucial, so we encourage women to follow our FREE 8-week diet and lifestyle program. This program ensures you receive all the proper nutrition essential for ideal conception and a healthy pregnancy. It also guides you through healthy lifestyle practices as you experience this wonderful journey of bringing new life into this world!
Yoga can also prepare the uterus for the birthing process and is one of the best activities that can be done through the whole pregnancy. The process of labour can be intensive and yoga allows you to maintain your fitness levels even in the later stages of pregnancy.
Leading up to the stages of labour, there is this little secret you can employ as well. The homoeopathic medicine arnica, which is typically used to treat injuries and trauma, is an excellent tonic to take before and after labour. Arnica helps to reduce the swelling, bruising and damage to the whole pelvic area.
Post-labour
Although diet and lifestyle are deemed quite important, sometimes they’re just not enough to balance your hormones. Luckily, there are a few natural medicines that can achieve this balance in the brain via the HPA axis. A combination of these three herbs delivers the best effects by gently signalling the brain to balance your hormones:
- Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh)
- Vitex agnus castus (chaste tree)
- Salvia officinalis (sage)
Another herb which has been used for centuries can also help to re-tone the uterus and pelvic floor. Rubus occidentalis, commonly known as raspberry leaves, has a wonderful effect on regulating contractions and strengthening the uterus. All four medicinal herbs mentioned above are found in Happy Hormones, making it very easy for you to reap their benefits without having to take multiple supplements.
Note: Silica can also be very beneficial as it helps accelerate the healing process.
The BUB
How babies settle after being brought into this world largely depends upon the mental state of the mother. If the new mum is stressed and not coping well because of hormonal imbalance, this can make the new bub unsettled as well. Some mothers can also be anxious simply at the thought of motherhood and all the added responsibilities that come with it. This feeling of anxiety can be passed on to the baby as a mother cares for her new bub.
Fortunately, nature has provided us with yet another beautiful herb that can help with this. Passionflower is a natural nervous system calmer. The best thing about the herb is that it doesn’t make you drowsy, which means you’re unlikely to drift or doze off while caring for your baby. Additionally, if you’re nursing your bub, passionflower has a carminative effect and can help with your baby’s digestive system via your breast milk. It’s very well tolerated and the perfect tonic for new mums.
Passionflower is found in our Happy Hormones formula and is also available in herbal tea form. Chamomile tea is another great recommendation to help with milk production and calm a baby’s disturbed digestion.
Losing the Post-Baby Bump
Despite your best efforts in the gym, it can be hard to shift that postpartum weight. It's largely a hormonal issue to assist with breastfeeding. For some women, however, their bodies just can’t recognise the shift when they’ve stopped nursing their bubs.
For this reason, balancing your hormones is critically important to lose that extra weight fast. Of course, diet and exercise are important so this is where our 8-Week Program can help you. It’s the perfect route to clean up your system and provides you with some structure to healthy eating rather than just restricting on calories, which isn’t ideal at this phase in your life.
Summary
Being a new mum can be a stressful experience but it doesn’t really have to be that way. With the right preparation, together with balancing your hormones as quickly as possible post-labour, you’ll have the best opportunity to enjoy this very special moment in your life!
