After birth, the hormonal landscape changes more rapidly than at any other time in life. This dramatic shift affects emotions, energy, bonding, and sleep — and explains why many new parents feel fragile, overwhelmed, or intensely sensitive during the first weeks.

Once the placenta is delivered, estrogen and progesterone drop sharply. This sudden decline affects the brain’s emotional regulation and can lead to mood swings, tearfulness, irritability, restlessness, and the common “baby blues” around day 3–5. These changes are biological, not personal.

At the same time, prolactin, the milk-producing hormone, increases. Prolactin enhances caregiving instincts but can also heighten emotional sensitivity and fatigue. Because prolactin peaks at night, your mood may fluctuate across the day.

Oxytocin supports bonding and calm, but it is sensitive to stress. Skin-to-skin contact, closeness, and breastfeeding increase oxytocin, while pain and overwhelm can reduce it, making it harder to feel grounded.

Meanwhile, cortisol, the stress hormone, remains elevated postpartum. This leads to hypervigilance, light sleep, and a sense of being constantly on alert — a protective biological response, not a sign of inadequacy.

Relaxin and other pregnancy hormones remain in the body for weeks to months, affecting physical stability, which in turn influences emotional resilience.

Together, these hormones create a postpartum emotional landscape where tenderness, exhaustion, love, worry, and vulnerability can coexist. Most emotional fluctuations are normal — but persistent sadness, anxiety, or difficulty connecting should always be taken seriously.

Alma’s tips

• Skin-to-skin contact, warmth, and rest support hormonal balance.

• Ask for help — recovery is a physical and emotional process.

• Seek medical support if your emotional state does not improve or feels overwhelming.