How long after having a baby does the hcg pregnancy hormone stay in your system?

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. It is typically detectable in the blood as early as 10-14 days after conception and its levels rise rapidly in the first trimester, peaking at around weeks 8-11 of gestation. After the baby is born, hCG levels begin to decline and are usually no longer detectable in the blood within 4-6 weeks postpartum. However, in some cases, it can take up to 12 weeks or more for hCG levels to return to normal.