After pregnancy, everything changes: not only is there a baby, but many women also find that they suddenly have a bad odor. We asked an expert what’s behind this.
You’ve given birth to a baby, you’re super happy or mostly very exhausted—and you suddenly notice that you smell different? And not necessarily very pleasant, but maybe you even think you stink? Many women report such experiences, and on TikTok, there are numerous videos where women talk about suddenly having an unpleasant odor, like onions.
“I think it’s important to talk about all these changes during and after pregnancy,” says gynecologist Johanna Janku. “These are vulnerable phases that come with major adjustments.” Indeed, a lot is happening in the body, and both smell and the sense of smell can change.
Hormonal Changes After Giving Birth
Already during pregnancy, the sense of smell can be different, and many women report that they become more sensitive to certain smells and can’t stand some at all. But even postpartum—in the phase after birth, known as the puerperium—a lot happens in the mother’s body. “In the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, both estrogen and progesterone levels are very high,” explains the expert. “Once the baby is born, the concentration of these hormones in the blood drops very sharply and abruptly.”
This postpartum hormonal adjustment primarily serves to help the body recover after birth and support lactation. Two hormones play a particularly significant role: prolactin, which is very important for milk production and breastfeeding, and oxytocin, also known as the “cuddle hormone.” Oxytocin is released mainly during skin-to-skin and eye contact with the baby, but also during breastfeeding.
The significant changes in hormone levels can also result in increased and more intense sweating. “Additionally, water retention is common during pregnancy. The body eliminates this water after birth, leading to increased sweating.” The blood volume, which was elevated during pregnancy, also returns to normal, as does bowel activity, which resumes its normal function.
And then there’s the factor of time: “During the postpartum period, many women often sleep little, and some feel exhausted as a result. It’s not always easy to find the time to take extensive care of oneself.”
Article by Michelle de Oliveira
Expert: Dr. med. Johanna Janku is a specialist in FMH gynecology and obstetrics and the founder of “Oh Yes Baby Yes.”
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