NRSG 3302 – Women’s and Family
Hormones of Pregnancy
Hormone
*estrogen
Where Secreted
Major Actions


ovaries-early
placenta-over ½ by 

7wks
*progesterone
corpus luteum
placenta
*hCG
(human chorionic
gonadotropin)
Trophoblast
(placenta)
relaxin
corpus luteum
placenta
 uterine size
 breast development
 blood flow
Prevents further follicular
development during pregnancy
 relaxes smooth muscle
 maintains uterine lining for
implantation
 thermogenic during ovulation
 Prevents involution of corpus
luteum, which maintains
production of progesterone
until the placenta is formed
 Used to detect early
pregnancy initially high in early
pregnancy then diminishes
  uterine contractility
 relaxes connective tissue
 both growth promoting and
lactogenic (milk producing)
 acts as antagonist to insulin
*hPL
(human placental
lactogen)
placenta
*prolactin
placenta
anterior pituitary
 affects breast growth and milk
production
Hormone
Where Secreted
Major Actions
anterior pituitary
  during pregnancy
 Produces hyperpigmentation
posterior pituitary
 Stimulates uterine contractions
 Stimulates the milk ejection
reflex
Adrenals
  during pregnancy to
conserve sodium and maintain
fluid balance
cortisol
Adrenals
  during pregnancy, is active
in metabolism of glucose and
fats
 May be helpful in preventing
rejection of pregnancy
because of its antiinflammatory effect
thyroxine
Thyroid
  during pregnancy to
stimulate basal metabolic rate
melanocyte stimulating
hormone
*oxytocin
aldosterone
*FSH (follicle
stimulating hormone)
*LH (luteinizing
hormone)
Anterior pituitary
Anterior pituitary
 Initiates maturation of ovum,
necessary for conception, is
suppressed during pregnancy
 Stimulates ovulation of the
mature ovum in the
nonpregnant state
*= hormones you are responsible for