Let's learn about the Human Placental Lactogen (HPL) hormone, which is important during pregnancy.

If you're a mom-to-be, you're probably curious about the amazing things happening inside your body. Today we're talking about a special hormone that's produced only during pregnancy and is crucial for the development of your baby in the womb. It's called Human Placental Lactogen, or HPL for short. Let's take a look at what it does and why it's important.

What is Human Placental Lactogen (HPL)?

Simply put, this is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy.

Now you may be wondering what this placenta is. It is a temporary organ that develops inside your uterus only during pregnancy. It is like a "supply center" that provides the baby with oxygen and nutrition, and also removes waste from the baby's body. So, the placenta is where the HPL hormone is produced.

Doctors can test your blood sample to see your HPL levels. The results can give you some idea of ​​whether the placenta is working properly and whether the baby is healthy.

This HPL hormone has another name, which is Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin (HCS) .

What actually happens with the HPL hormone?

Although scientists are still not 100% clear about the full mechanism of this hormone, it is currently known to perform several key functions.

• Preparing for lactation: This hormone is believed to prepare your mammary glands to produce milk after the baby is born.
• Providing nutrition: By controlling your body's metabolism, you ensure that your blood contains more nutrients needed for the baby's growth.
• Insulin Action: This is important to understand. Insulin is a hormone that helps the sugar, or glucose , in our blood, enter our cells. HPL makes your body less responsive to insulin. This is called insulin sensitivity. This results in more glucose remaining in the blood. That extra glucose can be used for the growth and energy of the baby in the womb.

What should the HPL level be like in general?

HPL levels gradually increase throughout pregnancy. Normal values ​​are as follows.

This hormone can be detected with a blood test around 6 weeks into pregnancy. If you are expecting twins or triplets, your HPL levels may be higher than normal.

In what situations does the doctor recommend doing this HPL test?

This test is not usually done for everyone. However, if there are certain risk factors, your doctor may decide to check your hormone levels. For example:

• If the level of amniotic fluid around the baby is low.
• If an abnormality is seen during an ultrasound scan .
• If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy.
• If you are at risk of developing gestational diabetes .

This is a very simple test that involves taking a small blood sample from a vein in your arm.

What do the differences in HPL levels mean?

If the HPL level increases...

If your HPL level is higher than expected, your doctor will investigate the cause. This report alone will not make any major decisions. Your doctor will consider many factors, including your health status and other test results. Sometimes, an elevated HPL level could be a sign of diabetes or a multiple pregnancy, such as twins.

If the HPL level decreases...

A decrease in HPL levels can also be a sign of something else. But don't panic. This is also something that your doctor will consider along with other factors. A decrease in HPL levels can sometimes be associated with conditions like:

• Miscarriage
• Preeclampsia - This is a serious condition that occurs with high blood pressure during pregnancy.
• A problem with the placenta or the baby's development.

What can I do to keep HPL levels normal?

Remember this: You can't directly control these hormone levels. It's something that happens naturally in the body.

However, you can adopt healthy habits that will help you avoid conditions like gestational diabetes and high blood pressure that can occur during pregnancy. These are very good for your and your baby's overall health.

• Stay away from junk foods and sugary foods as much as possible.
• Choose good proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats (for example, something like olive oil instead of fried foods).
• Add fruits and vegetables to your diet.
• Exercise regularly as directed by your doctor.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

What else can you ask the doctor about HPL?

If your doctor recommends this HPL test, you can also ask these questions to learn more. Never be afraid to ask questions about your health.

• "Doctor, why are you asking me to do this test?"
• "Should I not eat before the test?"
• "How long will it take for the results of the report to come?"
• "If my HPL level is low/high, what could be the reason?"
• "Am I at risk of developing gestational diabetes or high blood pressure?"
• "Did this blood test look at other hormones? What do those results say?"
• "Will I need to have other tests, like an ultrasound scan?"