Congratulations on your pregnancy, mama-to-be!
Now that you are expecting, you surely are looking for useful information to help you navigate through these 40 important weeks of your life. Let us help you with one: how progesterone affects your body in the first trimester of your pregnancy.
What is progesterone?
According to John Hopkins Medicine, progesterone is the hormone produced by a woman’s ovaries and placenta during pregnancy. It aids in the stimulation to thicken the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg.
Progesterone is made by the corpus luteum on your ovary, which is formed every time you ovulate and breaks down when you no longer need to make progesterone. The corpus luteum will continue to be the one responsible for producing progesterone until about Week 10 of your pregnancy. After that, the placenta takes over the production of progesterone until your baby is born.
Why is progesterone important?
It helps the uterus prepare for pregnancy. Known as the pregnancy hormone, it helps in the thickening of the endometrium (uterine lining) in preparation to receive an embryo, which is the female’s egg fertilized by the male’s sperm. Normally 5 days after ovulation, the fertilized embryo will reach the uterus and will attach to the uterine wall 2 days later. The progesterone levels peak once the embryo attaches to the uterine wall. Those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) are given progesterone supplementation to help the fertilized embryo attach to the uterine wall.
It supports your baby as it grows inside your womb. A pregnant woman produces human chorionic gonadotropin hormone or HCG, which signals the ovaries to continue producing progesterone. When the uterine wall is thick (thanks to progesterone), it helps the embryo grow into a fetus. In short, progesterone helps create a suitable environment that nurtures your developing baby.
It helps prevent pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and preterm labor. Progesterone is responsible for your uterine lining so low levels of it can make it difficult for you to stay pregnant. Talk to your OB-GYN to determine if you’ll be needing progesterone treatment during early pregnancy.
What can you expect during the first trimester due to the exponential rise of your progesterone?
Acid reflux and other gastrointestinal woes. Progesterone relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle between the esophagus and stomach responsible for keeping the food and acid in your stomach to stay where they are. So expect heartburn, as well as vomiting, gas, and bloating, during the first few weeks of your pregnancy.
Constipation. This hormone relaxes your muscles so that it prevents your uterus from contracting until you’re due to experience the symptoms of labor. However, progesterone relaxing your muscles can also slow down your digestive tract, which can cause constipation.
Fatigue. You may feel tired or sleepy most of the time. It’s because your progesterone levels are soaring.
Dizziness. Production of progesterone can also cause your relaxation of blood vessels throughout your body, so expect your blood pressure to be lower than normal and occasional dizziness.
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