Mood swings
Pregnancy brings huge changes. Suddenly you have to deal with the worry of a baby growing inside you, whether you’re eating the right things, the impact the baby will have on your life including relationships and work, and the physical changes your body is experiencing. With the added effects of pregnancy hormones, it’s no surprise that pregnant women find their moods changing constantly.
Prenatal depression?
Mood swings are perfectly normal and usually settle down a bit when you get to the second trimester. If you are feeling anxious or depressed constantly, you may be experiencing prenatal depression, which is thought to be even more common that postpartum depression. The symptoms are different from the slight emotional ups and downs of pregnancy – prenatal depression is more severe and you might need medication to help you to feel better. Typical symptoms include anxiety, extreme irritability, difficulty concentrating, extreme tiredness (although keep in mind that this is a normal side effect of early pregnancy) and insomnia. You’ll feel constantly sad and won’t want to socialize with anyone. You may also develop obsessive compulsive tendancies, repeating actions such as washing your hands or turning lights on and off.
Feeling emotional?
The first thing to do is be realistic. We all have expectations about how we’d like to this time of our life to be, and sometimes we expect too much. Celeb magazines packed with images of gorgeous movie stars and their perfect bumps don’t help!
You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t feel happy, sad, worried, tired, angry, confused and insecure at different points during your pregnancy – and it’s likely those movie stars do too, when they’re not posing for the camera. Accept that this is a time of great change, both mentally and physically, and you’ll realize that this conflict of emotions is perfectly normal.
Explain to your partner how you’re feeling rather than bottling it all up or taking it out on him (see making time for one anotherandmood swings for more information). Don’t forget that although you may feel you’re going through pregnancy on your own, they’re involved too and may be feeling similar anxieties.
By the second trimester, when most women ‘bloom’ and start to really enjoy their pregnancies, your emotions should have leveled out a bit and you might start to feel a bit more normal and less like dissolving into floods of tears. If you are still feeling emotional during the second trimester and beyond, mention this to your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife. To read more on this subject, go to our article mental wellbeing.
How to shake off the mood swings?
It might help to start some prenatal exercises, such as pregnancy yoga. It’s a great way to meet other moms-to-be and to feel good about your body as it changes. Fresh air can also help if you’re feeling down, so take a stroll. Make sure you get enough rest – if you’re feeling emotional, tiredness isn’t going to help. Pregnancy is a time in your life when you’re allowed to have a lie-in, get home from work and watch TV all evening! Alternately, take a long bath and read a pregnancy magazine! And talk! Talking about your feelings can really help with your changing emotions, so chat to a good friend or your mom about how you are feeling and get it off your chest!
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.