Mood swings
Pregnancy is accompanied by huge physical and mental changes. Suddenly you have to deal with the fact there’s a baby in there and worry about the impact parenthood will have on your lifestyle and career.
At the same time you’ll be coping with pregnancy symptoms and hormones – so it’s not surprising your mood might veer from joy to depression, with a good helping of cranky in the mix too! The good news is that your emotions should settle down during your second trimester.
How to cope with mood swings
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 and potentially taking it out on him (see making time for one another). By the second trimester, when most women ‘bloom’ and start to really enjoy their pregnancies, your emotions should be calmer.
What if it doesn’t ease up?
If you don’t have any respite from your negative symptoms, and are feeling anxious or depressed constantly, you may be experiencing prenatal depression. It always helps to talk to someone, so talk to your family and friends about how you’re feeling. Your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife can also help with this if you’re worried.
See pregnancy blues and depression for more help.
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.
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Last Modified: 05/07/2007
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