6 Signs of Hormonal Imbalance After Pregnancy with PCOS

A woman’s body goes through A LOT of changes during pregnancy. One of the most noticeable changes is in hormones. As our bodies work to grow a little life inside of us, our hormones are working overtime to ensure both mom and baby have the support they need to develop, stay healthy, and prepare for childbirth. Needless to say, pregnancy causes our hormones to go on quite the rollercoaster ride. 

And that ride doesn’t end after giving birth. Our hormones will still fluctuate drastically, causing various physical and emotional symptoms! For many women, it can take up to a year to get back to normal . . . however if you’re a woman with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) it can take longer to regulate. Plus, determining if you have hormonal imbalance related to pregnancy or PCOS can be more difficult than you think! 

However, just like with PCOS, hormonal imbalance after pregnancy may be common, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. All hormonal imbalance can be fixed using natural healing methods and lifestyle changes. So, today, we’re going to get into how you can tell if you have a hormonal imbalance post-pregnancy and what you can do about it.

6 Signs of Hormonal Imbalance After Pregnancy

Irregular Menstrual Cycle

After giving birth (if you decide not to breastfeed), your period should return in 6 to 8 weeks. If you are breastfeeding, it could take 12 months. Of course, every body is different, and your period may come sooner or later than that. This is especially true if you have PCOS, because we Cysters already deal with menstrual irregularity. Because of this, it’s something you want to monitor really closely postpartum.

Difficulty Losing Weight

Let’s get one thing straight, weight gain during pregnancy is COMPLETELY NORMAL and is a natural part of this incredible process. While you may feel societal pressure to lose the “baby weight” after giving birth, women with PCOS may find it more difficult to accomplish this. This is due to insulin resistance, when the body cannot properly metabolize glucose and manage blood sugar levels, leading to weight gain and difficulty losing weight using normal measures. 

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to lose weight after pregnancy, especially if you have PCOS and already struggle with insulin resistance! However, if you’ve tried a PCOS-friendly diet, you’ve done slow-weighted workouts, and you’ve reduced your stress levels and still aren’t experiencing weight loss, take a look at your other PCOS symptoms first. If those are improving, these are signs that you are on the right track.

Fatigue and Low Energy Levels

Of course, being tired is expected postpartum. You probably won’t get to sleep through the night for quite a while. But, there is a difference between being tired from lack of sleep and feeling fatigued from a hormonal imbalance. Even after a decent night’s rest or a long nap, you’ll still feel exhausted and have low energy levels, which could be caused by fluctuating cortisol levels. 

Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, disrupts our sleep cycles, making us feel tired in the morning and awake when it’s time to go to bed at night. Chronic fatigue while adjusting with a baby is challenging and as a woman with PCOS, your cortisol levels are probably naturally elevated but there are ways to lower your cortisol with supplements and help you regain energy. 

Acne or Oily Skin

You may have noticed changes in your skin during pregnancy. You likely experienced acne in your first and third trimesters. However, if you have a hormonal imbalance, you’ll find that you have acne and oily skin during this postpartum period too. This is caused by elevated androgen levels, such as testosterone, and other hormonal shifts post-pregnancy. 

Fun Fact: My Testosterone Relief Tea is my go-to herbal remedy to help lower androgen levels with PCOS! It’s one of the main hormones that gets out-of-whack with this hormonal condition, so adding postpartum fluctuations to the mix can make it even more challenging. Try this tea and other natural ways to lower testosterone to get back on track.

Difficulty Breastfeeding

In 2019, 83.2% of mothers chose to breastfeed their newborns. However, this rate declines to just 55% over the baby’s first year. There are many reasons why women may stop breastfeeding, and one of them is hormonal imbalance. The hormone working overtime to produce breastmilk is prolactin. But in women with PCOS, prolactin is often elevated, meaning it can be difficult for their bodies to regulate breast milk production. If you can’t breastfeed or are struggling, definitely talk with your doctor and see a lactation consultant to see if this is a result of hormonal imbalance. 

Mood Swings, Depression, or Anxiety

Our hormones majorly affect our mental health and moods. With fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels after pregnancy, many women experience mood swings, depression, anxiety, and what is also known as the baby blues. But in women with PCOS, there is an increased risk of postpartum depression, which can show up around three months after giving birth. 

Postpartum depression symptoms you should be on the lookout for include:

• Loss of appetite
• Fear of being a bad mother
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Feelings of self-shame, worthlessness, or guilt
• Withdrawal from friends and family

If you’re experiencing any of these, see a doctor immediately, and let’s get your hormones back on track. 

How to Fix PCOS Hormonal Imbalance After Pregnancy

Try a gluten and dairy-free diet. 

While pregnant, you may have followed my PCOS pregnancy diet plan. I’m a huge advocate for eating a healthy and whole-food diet. For Cysters in postpartum who want to balance their hormones, I recommend trying a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet. You’ll still get to enjoy your favorite foods but with PCOS-friendly alternatives (check out my favorite PCOS-friendly recipes on the Cysterhood App!) while naturally balancing your hormones and reversing your PCOS. 

Practice stress management. 

Becoming a new mother can be a stressful period. Adding hormonal imbalance during postpartum can make it even more stressful. Incorporate stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing to lower elevated cortisol levels. These natural remedies are super safe and effective, especially for breastfeeding mothers. 

Engage in slow-weighted or low-impact exercise. 

Meditative and slow-weighted exercises like walking, lifting weights, and pilates have a ton of benefits for postpartum mothers. Not only can it help balance hormones, but it can promote weight loss by improving insulin sensitivity. Plus, exercise releases endorphins, which are super helpful in reducing stress and fighting depression. 

And did you know that when breastfeeding, low-impact workouts are better than high-intensity workouts? Studies show that after an intense workout, there is a higher concentration of adiponectin in breast milk. This can prevent your baby from gaining weight in early infancy. Plus, these exercises are much better for a PCOS body overall to achieve your goals! So, slow is the way to go! 

Head on over to the Cysterhood App to check out PCOS-friendly workouts to help balance your hormones and get you feeling great! 

Take Ovasitol daily. 

Adding the natural supplement inositol to your daily routine is a great way to start your hormone health journey. Adding one scoop of my Ovasitol powder to your favorite non-carbonated drink twice a day can improve your insulin resistance, androgen levels, metabolic hormones, and ovulation! 

It’s also super safe to take when breastfeeding. In fact, one study shows that inositol in breast milk could help your baby’s brain develop and make neurological connections. Of course, talk to your doctor before starting any kind of supplement while breastfeeding.

Increase Omega-3 fatty acids.

While we’re on the topic of natural supplements, taking an omega-3 supplement can help reduce inflammation, clear up skin, lower testosterone levels, and improve insulin sensitivity in women with hormonal imbalances. It’s also super beneficial for both mom and baby and safe to use when breastfeeding. 

You can find omega-3 supplements in my Metabolism Plus bundle, along with other helpful supplements to fight PCOS symptoms, like curcumin, Coenzyme Q10, and my MetaMulti vitamin. 

Take control of your hormonal health and start feeling yourself again! 

Mamas, it’s so important to remember that after your baby is born, your health and wellbeing is still a priority. You can be the best version of yourself when you’re well taken care of . . . and that involves keeping your hormones in check. Look out for signs of hormonal imbalance and don’t be too quick to accept a “new normal.” You deserve to live symptom-free postpartum with PCOS! 

You can find more ways to naturally heal PCOS on the blog and you’ll get tons of great advice on supplements and other remedies that can get you feeling your best.