During pregnancy, do you sometimes feel like your joints are a little loose, or you feel a little unsteady when you walk? Or do you feel like you can bend over and do small tasks more easily than before? The person behind all this is the hormone called 'relaxin'. As the name suggests, its main job is to 'relax' the body, that is, to make it loose. Today, let's talk about this friend of ours, what it does, and how to take care of us.
Simply put, what is Relaxin?
Relaxin is a hormone that plays a very important role in our reproductive system, especially during pregnancy. Its main job is to relax the ligaments and muscles in our body, helping them to stretch and become more flexible.
This hormone, relaxin, is produced by your body even when you are not pregnant, that is, during your normal menstrual cycle. During that time, its job is to:
- Relaxing the uterus.
- Preparing the uterine wall for implantation of an embryo.
- Preventing the uterus from contracting unnecessarily.
If pregnancy does not occur during that menstrual cycle, relaxin levels will decrease again. However, if pregnancy does occur, relaxin levels will remain high and continue to rise throughout the first trimester of pregnancy. During this time, it is this hormone that helps your body stretch to accommodate the growing baby in your womb.
Amazing things to do to relax during pregnancy
Relaxin is like a superhero during pregnancy. It prepares your body for childbirth in amazing ways. Let's take a look at the main things it does.
| The function of the hormone relaxin | Simply explained |
|---|---|
| Preparing the uterus | The fertilized embryo arrives and creates a suitable environment for implantation in the uterine wall. |
| Helping the development of the placenta | After the embryo implants, the placenta helps the baby develop, providing the nutrients and oxygen it needs. |
| Preventing premature contractions | It relaxes the muscles of the uterus and prevents preterm labor. |
| Making the body flexible | As the baby grows, the ligaments and muscles of the pelvis and abdomen relax, allowing the uterus to enlarge. |
| Relaxing blood vessels | During pregnancy, the body's blood volume increases. Blood vessels relax to accommodate the increased blood volume. |
| Helping with childbirth | As labor approaches, the pelvis relaxes, softens and helps the cervix open, making way for the baby to emerge more easily. |
What discomforts can we experience due to relaxation?
We don't 'feel' the hormone relaxin in our bodies. That means we can't say, "Oh, I have too much relaxin in my body now." However, it can have some indirect effects on us because of what it does. Don't worry, these are normal things most of the time.
- Joint pain and instability: Relaxin can cause some people to experience pain because the ligaments around the pelvis and spine are loosened. This is called Pregnancy-related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) . This can cause pain when climbing stairs, rolling over in bed, or putting on pants with one leg raised. You may also feel unsteady and off-balance when walking.
The most important thing is that since your joints are loose due to the relaxin, you should avoid lifting weights and doing exercises that put a lot of strain on your body during pregnancy. Otherwise, there is a high chance of sprains to your joints and ligaments.
- Digestive problems: Relaxin relaxes the muscles of the uterus as well as the muscles of the digestive tract. This can slow down the passage of food , causing constipation, bloating, and indigestion .
- Changes in urinary control: As the pelvic floor relaxes, some people may experience a slight leakage of urine when coughing or laughing.
If you are having this kind of discomfort, it is very important to talk to your doctor about it.
What are the symptoms of pelvic girdle pain (PGP)?
See if you have these pains.
| Painful area | Description |
|---|---|
| At hip level, in front | Feeling pain around the pubic bone. |
| Lower back | Pain on one or both sides of the back. |
| On the inner side of the thigh | Feeling pain along the inner thigh. |
| Perineum | Feeling pain in the area between the vagina and anus. |
Does relaxin still remain in the body after having a baby?
Yes! This is something that many people don't know. Although relaxin levels drop suddenly after childbirth, they don't disappear completely. It can take several months, maybe even a year , to return to pre-pregnancy levels.
Especially if you are breastfeeding , the relaxin hormone may remain in the body for a while longer.
That means, even after having a baby, your joints and ligaments are still a little loose. So, don't start heavy exercises or lifting weights right away. Give your body some time to recover. It's best to talk to your doctor about that too and ask what exercises are appropriate.
Is it a problem if relaxin increases or decreases?
This is still being researched, so it's hard to say for sure. But some studies have found that very high levels of relaxin may be linked to premature birth. There's also some speculation that very low levels of relaxin may be linked to conditions like scleroderma and endometriosis, which are conditions that cause the skin to thicken and harden. But these aren't confirmed yet.
Take-Home Message
- Relaxin is a very important and natural hormone that prepares your body for childbirth during pregnancy.
- This hormone causes your joints and ligaments to loosen, so avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise during pregnancy and in the months after giving birth.
- Pelvic pain (PGP) is common, but if the pain is severe or uncomfortable, be sure to let your doctor know.
- Relaxin is still present in the body after childbirth, so give your body time to recover. Don't rush back to doing all your old things all at once.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න