As women we aren’t strangers to changes in our hormones, but even more so after pregnancy. There is good research to demonstrate what is happening physiologically within our bodies after a delivery and this can be highly dependent on the type of delivery (natural, c-section, etc) and the environment you are in.

For example, I had two large breech births and two c-sections, one that was urgent and other that was planned. I found the planned c-section to be much less stressful than my first delivery.

After delivery, we have a boost in the hormone oxytocin that helps with bonding with our babies, this also helps offset reductions in estrogen and progesterone. With reductions in these two sex hormones, it can impact production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which can impact our mood and energy levels as well.

Here are some of the changes you can expect:

3-6 weeks post partum: it is common to see a degree of sleeplessness, which can increase the hormone cortisol and reduce melatonin secretion in the body. We may crave sugary carbohydrate rich meals to compensate.
3 months post partum: we may start seeing a return to normal levels of progesterone and estradiol. We may have varying amounts of the hormone prolactin, which can impact milk production, if the mother is breastfeeding and returning to work.
6 months post partum: sex hormone levels start to become better balanced and we may see a return of our menstrual cycle. Further reductions in prolactin/milk production as our babies are transitioning to solid foods is common.

There can be many changes after a pregnancy; some like fat distribution may be temporary as we lose pregnancy weight.

Other changes can include: bigger feet, larger breasts; some pelvic floor issues with incontinence if you have a large or uncontrolled vaginal delivery; stretched out skin may be permanent. It is dependent on genetics, how much weight we gain in our pregnancies, how active we were during them, etc.

Spider veins/varicose veins; hyperpigmentation of the skin, esp face; dry eyes/changes in vision; changes in saliva production; changes in lubrication of the vulva/vagina; bigger feet, larger breasts, pelvic floor issues and incontinence; separation in abdominal muscles (diastasis) or even tooth loss are not uncommon.

Identifying Signs of Hormonal Changes After Pregnancy
Most commonly the signs of overall hormonal imbalances can include:

Depression
Anxiety
Low energy
Constipation
Diarrhea
Brain fog
Rapid heart rate
Sweating
Weight loss resistance
Cold or heat intolerances
Bloating

These can be linked to two areas:

Thyroid issues: It is not uncommon to see thyroid imbalances post-pregnancy and 10-15% of women will be impacted by this.
HPA: hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis: our bodies have the joy of a new baby, but it is also a stressful time on the body and some women are more susceptible to these changes than others. Stress for the HPA-axis manifests in changes in digestion, mood, libido, immunity, etc

I liken this to "fight or flight" response in the body....on overdrive.

When in doubt, discuss with your healthcare provider; there's no need to suffer with any of these symptoms, especially if there's a way to test hormones and adjust your lifestyle as well.

My general recommendations for all postpartum women:

Consume nutrient dense whole foods
Avoid/limit highly processed, hyper palatable foods
Focus on protein/healthy fats/fiber FIRST, then add in the non-starchy carbs
Hydration is super important and there's good data on the use of electrolytes, esp with breastfeeding
Don't over-exercise, start with walking, gentle yoga/stretching; once you are cleared by your OB, midwife, etc, you can start resuming more physical activity; find ways to connect with your infant and make time for exercise
When in doubt: see your healthcare professional
Labs: 25-hydroxy Vitamin D; full iron panel (TIBC, % sat, ferritin, iron); full thyroid panel (TSH, free/total T3 and T4, reverse T3, thyroid peroxidase/TPO, thyroglobulin/TG), estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, FSH, LH, SHBG, CMP, CBC, serum magnesium, fasting insulin, glucose (these are a good starting point)

Intermittent Fasting and balancing post-pregnancy hormones
My general rule of thumb is that I don't suggest or recommend using IF as a strategy in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. These are times when our fetus and infants need all available high quality resources (healthy fats, protein and carbs) to beneficially impact a growing brain and infant and fetal developmental milestones. However, when a woman is done with her pregnancy and finished with breastfeeding it is an excellent way to better balance insulin, cortisol, melatonin, sex hormones, leptin/ghrelin. Meaning....you will have less cravings, better manage your blood sugar and generally have more restful sleep habits.

For moms who are interested in exploring IF as a means to balance hormones once their bodies are no long providing key nutrients to their children, there are a ton of benefits and it is easy to get started. Fasting is a means of eating less often. By no longer snacking and adding organizing structured meal times to incorporate plenty of protein/healthy fats/fiber/non-starchy carbs to your diet, it will keep you satiated and not fixated on eating off your kiddos plates or finishing their meals. You will have more energy/less cravings. It can help make meal times less stressful if you pre-plan/food prep two days/week or even hiring help for a few hours/week to help you grocery shop or food prep during naps/school time, etc. I’d love to be a part of your journey with my book: Intermittent Fasting Transformation: The 45-Day Program for Women to Lose Stubborn Weight, Improve Hormonal Health, and Slow Aging.

Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, intermittent fasting and nutrition expert, and a two-time TEDx speaker. She leads numerous specialty fasting programs, has been featured on many well-known podcasts and recently launched her book, Intermittent Fasting Transformation: The 45-Day Program for Women to Lose Stubborn Weight, Improve Hormonal Health, and Slow Aging.

Understanding our Hormones Post Pregnancy by Cynthia Thurlow