Relaxin

A. What it is

when a woman is ready to have her little one, a complex series of changes take place in her body to prepare for the labor and birth process. Most of those changes are triggered by hormones and the one we will be looking at today is the one called relaxin.

Relaxing is one of many hormones you have while carrying your little one and it is secreted in the ovary by the corpus luteum, when a woman is pregnant the placenta will also release the hormone, as will the uterine lining.

B. What it does

Relaxing is crucial to the the female reproductive process. Relaxin levels will increase after ovulation and during the second half of your menstrual cycle, where it is believed to relax the walls of your uterus and prepare them for pregnancy, if you don't get pregnant, levels will drop until the next cycle.

If you do get pregnant then your relaxin levels will continue to rise through the first trimester and thus aiding in implantation and placenta growth. This hormone also stops contractions as your little one grows to prevent early delivery. at the end of your pregnancy when labor begins, Relaxin helps to relax the ligaments in the pelvis to allow it to stretch as the little one leaves your body.

relaxin is responsible for relaxing your muscles and ligaments to make room for the growth of your baby and make it easier for your body to expand enough to deliver. However, this is not the only function relaxin has in a woman’s reproductive system. The hormone is responsible for the following:

- Helps the foetus implant in the uterus

- Aids in the growth of the placenta

- Stops contractions to prevent early delivery

- Relaxes intrauterine ligaments to allow for expansion of the uterus to accommodate the growing placenta and foetus

- Increases elasticity of and relaxes the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles

- Relaxes arteries to accommodate a 30-50% increase in blood volume so the blood pressure does not spike

- May play a role in inducing labor

C. Discomforts it may cause

If you’re experiencing pelvic, groin, joint, or ligament pain during pregnancy, it can be a serious problem that makes your pregnancy very uncomfortable. Here are some tips for managing the more painful effects of relaxin.

- Be mindful of your posture, as relaxin can cause postural issues. Try to stand with your head high, shoulders back, and your spine and pelvis in a neutral position, with your core supporting a straight column from the head to the tail.

- Maintain an exercise routine. If your tendons and ligaments are too loose and your muscles too weak, it can lead to an imbalance that is even more painful.

- To avoid heartburn, try to eat smaller meals, chewing your food slowly at mealtimes. You can encourage digestion after larger meals by taking a walk.

- If you do experience heartburn, ginger can be an incredibly soothing natural solution to try before taking medication.

If your pelvic pain is particularly severe, physical therapy might be a good solution. A professional can help you with pregnancy therapies such as soft tissue massage, hot or cold therapy, pelvic joint taping, and pelvic stability braces or crutches. They may also be able to recommend specific strengthening exercises and lifestyle modification advice for your particular circumstances so you can avoid aggravating activities and better support your pelvic floor muscles. If you are considering physiotherapy or any other pain relief therapy, make sure you are consulting with a professional trained in maternity care.