How to Support Your Hormones in Postpartum Recovery and Beyond

May 19

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If you’re currently pregnant and soaking up all the info you can find about what to expect after birth—first of all, high five for planning ahead. While everyone seems to be talking about birth plans, swaddling techniques, and car seats, very few people are talking about one of the biggest shifts you’ll face postpartum: your hormones.

In a recent episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep, I sat down with herbalist and founder of Ladywell, Ashley Rocha, to talk about the postpartum hormone crash, what your mood is trying to tell you, and how to actually support your body after baby arrives.

Spoiler alert: there’s a whole lot more to postpartum recovery than just “bouncing back.”

The Hormone Crash No One Talks About

Let’s get real: the first 24–48 hours after birth are a wild ride—not just emotionally, but biochemically. Your estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply, prolactin spikes (hello, milk production), and oxytocin flows to help you bond with your baby.

And yet… many new parents feel blindsided by weepiness, anxiety, rage, or exhaustion they didn’t see coming. Ashley explained that the body goes through massive hormonal fluctuations, and without proper support, that shift can feel like getting hit by a hormonal truck.

Whether you’ve already dealt with PMS or PMDD, or this is your first time feeling emotionally off-kilter, it’s essential to know: you’re not broken. Your hormones are doing exactly what they’re supposed to. The key is knowing how to support them.

Understanding the Signs of Hormonal Imbalance

Ashley shared some common red flags that suggest your body might need a little extra hormonal love postpartum:

Persistent sadness or crying spells

Feelings of guilt, shame, or disconnection from your baby
Irritability or “mom rage”
Panic attacks or anxiety
Trouble sleeping even when baby sleeps
Extreme fatigue or brain fog
A libido that’s totally MIA

Some of these can be normal for a few days or weeks, but if they persist or get worse, that’s a sign to talk to your provider—and also consider nutritional or herbal support.

So, What Can You Do? (Besides Just Survive…)

Ashley is all about proactive care, and she shared some of her favorite natural hormone support tips for postpartum parents.

Keep Taking Your Prenatal Vitamins

Just because the baby is out doesn’t mean your body doesn’t need deep nourishment. Continue your prenatal vitamins through the fourth trimester (and beyond if you’re breastfeeding). Your body is still healing and giving, and it needs all the nutritional support it can get.

Bring in the Herbs

Ashley’s herbalist background shines here. She recommends adding adaptogens and hormone-balancing herbs to your postpartum routine, including:

Ashwagandha: Helps regulate cortisol (your stress hormone), improves sleep, and builds resilience

Shatavari: Deeply nourishing for the reproductive system and also supports lactation
Vitex (Chasteberry): Great for hormone regulation in fertility, postpartum, and perimenopause
Magnesium: Critical for stress regulation, progesterone support, and better sleep—bonus points if you use Ladywell’s magnesium spray on your feet before bed (no middle-of-the-night bathroom trips required)

These herbal remedies for postpartum don’t just mask symptoms—they help restore balance from the inside out.

Supporting Your Mood Naturally

Let’s talk about that “mom brain” and ragey overwhelm that creeps in when you haven’t slept, haven’t eaten a hot meal in days, and feel like your body isn’t your own anymore.

Ashley reminded us that these aren’t just personality shifts. They’re biochemical responses to depleted nutrients, sleep deprivation, and sudden hormonal drops.

The takeaway? It’s not just about pushing through—it’s about supporting your body so you don’t have to white-knuckle your way through postpartum.

Start by:

Asking for help before you’re desperate
Setting up meals and supplement support before baby arrives
Prioritizing sleep however you can (including hiring help if that’s an option)
Using herbs and supplements that actually work

Fertility Awareness, Not Fear

A quick but important note: the standard six-week postpartum visit often includes a conversation about birth control. But hormonal birth control can further complicate your recovery, especially if you’re already feeling imbalanced. Ashley recommends the fertility awareness method or non-hormonal options like copper IUDs if that feels aligned.

The goal? Make choices that honor your healing—not just check a box.

Hormonal Health Is a Lifelong Journey

If you’re someone who’s already thinking ahead to what comes after postpartum (like perimenopause), this episode is gold. Ashley shared that most women enter perimenopause by their early 40s, and that the earlier you start caring for your hormones, the smoother the transition.

Her advice? Don’t wait until your body is waving a red flag. Get ahead of it. Track your cycle. Know your rhythms. And if your period is irregular, painful, or a total mystery—dig deeper. That’s your body whispering that it needs support before it starts screaming.

One Supplement, Many Stages

Ashley created Ladywell’s Daily Hormone Balance because she was tired of piecing together ten different tinctures every day. This all-in-one blend includes adaptogens, vitamins, and amino acids designed specifically for postpartum recovery, mood support, and long-term hormone health.

Bonus? It’s dosed properly (no “dusting” of ingredients here) and formulated with insights from both Eastern and Western medicine.

Ready to Feel Like You Again?

The biggest takeaway from this episode? You don’t have to suffer silently. Your hormones are powerful, and when supported, they help you thrive—not just survive.

🛒 Use code DEB20 at getladywell.com for 20% off Ashley’s line of life-stage supplements.

👶 Need one-on-one support? Check out my First Year Support Program or schedule a virtual consult to get tailored care for you and your baby.

Whether you’re still pregnant or already in the thick of the postpartum fog, let this be your gentle nudge: take care of your hormones, and they’ll take care of you.

Warmly,

Doula Deb

Ashley Rocha
CEO & Founder of Ladywell

Ashley is a trained herbalist specializing in women's health. Ladywell gives women the tools to care for their hormones and well-being through targeted life-stage supplements. Ladywell has helped 1000’s of women regain hormone balance, fix PMS, improve fertility and gracefully navigate perimenopause to live pain-free, fulfilling lives.