What hormonal change occurs after delivery of the placenta?

After the delivery of the placenta, a significant hormonal change is a drop in progesterone levels. Progesterone is a hormone that plays a crucial role during pregnancy, helping to prepare the uterus for implantation and maintaining the pregnancy. When the placenta is delivered, its production of hormones, including progesterone, ends abruptly, leading to a marked decrease in its levels.

This drop is essential for several physiological processes to occur postpartum. For instance, it enables the body to initiate the return to a non-pregnant state, which includes the resumption of the menstrual cycle and the restoration of ovarian function. The decline in progesterone levels also helps trigger lactation, as it allows prolactin to be more effective in stimulating milk production.

Understanding this hormonal shift is vital for recognizing the postpartum experience, as low progesterone levels can affect mood and physical recovery after childbirth.