Sharing another great article by Lily Nichols relating to the natural rise of cholesterol levels during pregnancy. It is a perfect example of how a healthy body takes care of the essentials. Interpreting lab results during specific times throughout life requires more than simply looking at the [flawed] reference ranges – it takes a qualified health professional who understands ALL the interconnections to assess these readings correctly. This is why I always recommend consulting a fertility trained qualified naturopath.
Here’s Lily’s article:
Every so often, I get a panicked message from someone concerned that their cholesterol levels are too high in pregnancy. Did you know that it’s NORMAL for blood lipids to rise in pregnancy? (I briefly touch on this in Chapter 9 of Real Food for Pregnancy.)
But why? One research paper explains:
“Total and LDL cholesterol levels double, and triglycerides rise three-fold in pregnancy due to increased hepatic production & reduced activity of lipoprotein lipase. No reference ranges have been established so routine testing should not be performed in pregnancy.”
Catch that last part? Experts don’t even recommend routine lipid screening in pregnancy.
This rise in blood lipids is physiologically normal to supply your baby’s brain & body with all the necessary fuel and essential fats for growth. It’s also theorized that this rise in lipids is in preparation for breastfeeding.
Lipid levels fall rapidly within the first 3 months of breastfeeding (they transfer to baby to support their growth and brain development!) and either plateau or slowly return to baseline by 1 year. For this reason, cholesterol levels will fall more rapidly in women who breastfeed.
And that can provide benefits for mom’s long-term health. As lactation researcher Alison Steube states:
“In mammalian physiology, lactation follows pregnancy. Disruption of this physiology is associated with long-term adverse maternal health outcomes, including higher risks of later-life obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.”
So, the takeaway here: Changes in blood lipids in pregnancy & postpartum are normal.
Unless your provider advises otherwise (because, like anything, there’s always exceptions and unique clinical scenarios), it’s probably best to hold off on cholesterol screening until your levels stabilize, which may be 1+ year postpartum, depending on your infant feeding preferences.
And, of course, discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider, as nothing in this email should be construed as individualized medical advice.
I’ll close out by acknowledging that breastfeeding is a commitment and takes support. I’ve been through it with both of my kiddos. The first month, in particular, is a learning curve (to put it lightly). If you need support, find an IBCLC near you. Their guidance is invaluable.
PS – This is a good example of why interpreting labs in pregnancy requires more than simply comparing a result to a standard reference range. Pregnancy physiology changes a lot of things, and without that context, perfectly normal adaptations can look concerning on paper.
If you are still concerned about higher than ‘normal’ cholesterol levels, it is advisable to reduce the pro-inflammatory foods from your diet. And this does not mean eliminating healthy saturated fats, but rather the ultra-processed foods which are high in processed grains, sugar, artificial additives and often contain GMO ingredients. Here are a few links you may find interesting as well as previous blogs on nutrition. You’ll also find lots more in my book which is available on Amazon.
