Nine months on, nine months off?! Between all the diaper changes, lack of sleep and juggling a dozen ‘musts’, some women still don’t feel quite like themselves years after giving birth.
Exhausted, easily irritated and a menstrual cycle that is still not normal. Merel (40) is the mother of two kids (6 and 2) and knows everything about it.
Completely out of balance
“After my first birth, I wanted to get back into the flow as quickly as possible. So for nine months during my pregnancy, I dove head-first into the world of hormones. I really thought I understood it all, but… boy oh boy, was I wrong! Despite my good eating and living habits, I felt completely out of balance. When my oldest was nine months old, I still wasn’t quite myself. I was exhausted, moody, and that led to big arguments at home.”
While a friend inquired about Merel’s well-being and that of the little one, the typical postpartum questions, the third question got Merel thinking. “How is your relationship going?” That was an eye-opener for Merel. “I had never really thought about the fact that so many changes can occur in your relationship after giving birth. Not only because of the arrival of a little one, but especially because as a woman you change so drastically.”
Back to your self
Delving deep into the world of hormones, Merel shared her story with other mothers who recognized themselves in her. New mothers craved guidance and support. As a former physio and manual therapist, Merel had always been concerned with improving the health of others, but now she took a different tack. “My mission? Bringing women back to their ‘self’.”
During her second pregnancy, Merel was able to use all her acquired knowledge. “What a difference I noticed! During pregnancy, recovery and beyond.” With these insights in her pocket, she opened The Hormone Clinic. “Every woman who comes in here has her own story, but mothers have one thing in common: they feel tired and have lost connection with themselves.” Merel emphasizes that they are often exhausted from lack of sleep, do their best to eat and live healthy, but unfortunately their hormones are not in balance.
Hormonal imbalance
How can you recognize a hormonal imbalance? “Pay attention to changes in your skin, nails and hair – they no longer appear as beautiful as before. You may also notice a bit more body hair appearing than normal. If you struggle or start to doubt your relationship every month just before your period, this is a strong indication of hormonal fluctuations. PMS symptoms and an irregular cycle can indicate a hormonal imbalance. And if the scale continues to climb higher, that can also be a signal.”
How do you handle that?
But how do you go about that? “Start with a good night’s sleep, that is really the basis. Make sure your plate is filled with enough vegetables and fruit (think of 500 grams of vegetables and two pieces of fruit per day). Don’t forget healthy fats, such as nuts, avocados and oily fish. Also take a look at your eating moments in a day – limit it to three. Avoid snacking as much as possible to prevent glucose spikes. Cow’s dairy is a hormone disruptor and pro-inflammatory substance because it contains the cow’s natural hormones and sometimes also added hormones. In addition, dairy contains casein, an addictive substance that affects neurotransmitters. Yes, it’s better to leave even that little bit in your cappuccino! And don’t think Coke Zero is a better choice, it’s just as bad as regular Coke.”
Stress is disastrous
“Hydrate yourself well: drink at least two liters of water a day. Exercise regularly, preferably three times a week, preferably in the morning or afternoon. This helps regulate your cortisol levels, as they peak during exercise and should fall in the evening. Choose skin care products that are so pure you could eat or drink them. If you’re thinking, “I would never eat that,” just remember that you’re putting it in your body just as much as you’re putting it on your skin. Finally, stress is disastrous. The precursor of the stress hormone is linked to the female sex hormone. It is therefore crucial to avoid stress or learn to deal with stress well.”
Customized hormones
Although healthy food is an important foundation, Merel goes much further. She offers tailor-made advice, tailored to individual needs and situations, whether it concerns an early desire to have children or dealing with long-term stress. From recommending the right nutritional supplements to drawing up practical shopping lists, and even discovering a sport that suits you together, Merel is ready to help. Because in her vision there is always room for improvement.
For example, a mother with two young children entered Merel’s practice. Her partner had given her a course as a gift (because there are arguments at home), and although she was a bit skeptical, she did not want to look a gift horse in the mouth. Merel listened to her story: the fatigue, the intestinal complaints, the tensions at home. But after four weeks, when they spoke again, there was a complete turnaround. “Oh Merel, I feel so much better,” she sobbed. “Some pain in my stomach every now and then, still not the perfect period, but I have just become a completely different person.”
Always progress
“Her energy during the day had increased significantly, she no longer felt exhausted after a long day at work and quality time with her children in the evenings went smoother than ever before,” shares Merel. She explains that a measurement always takes place at the start of a process, and the second measurement follows after eight weeks of living according to plan. “It has never happened that the last measurement was worse than the first.”
Read more about Merel and The Hormone Clinic here.
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