Mood Swings During Pregnancy
Mood swings during pregnancy are a normal experience Your body is going through physical and hormonal changes, and your day-to-day life is about to change. Of course, you’re having emotional ups and downs.
Mood swings during pregnancy are a lot like the mood swings that many women experience before their periods. You might feel happy one minute and sad, angry or anxious the next; or maybe you find yourself having bigger feelings over things that don’t usually make you all that emotional.
Causes –
Your emotional rollercoaster ride is at least partially fueled by hormones. During pregnancy, the body ramps up production of estrogen and progesterone, which can trigger moodiness as well as other not-so-fun side effects like nausea and fatigue.
Mood swings during pregnancy are caused by a variety of factors, including your rapidly changing hormones, the physical discomforts of pregnancy, and the very-normal worries of upcoming life change. If you find yourself feeling excited one moment and in tears the next, you’re far from alone.
Types –
At each chapter of the baby’s development, your moods can totally vary. Here’s what you might be feeling during each trimester.
▪︎ Fear
• First trimester:
During the first 12 to 13 weeks, it’s common to be worried about having a miscarriage. You may find that you panic more about what you’re eating, and what you may be doing right or wrong.
You develop this immediate instinct to protect your baby, and could panic about seeing blood or having cramps in your stomach, constantly fearing the worst.
• Second trimester:
It can be a relief when you get through the first trimester. After having that first scan and knowing your baby is OK can also alleviate a lot of fears. But, moms can still be afraid of late miscarriages and health problems in general.
• Third trimester:
The third trimester brings lots of new fears mainly around the birth. How painful it is going to be? Will it result in an emergency C-Section? These are all very common, valid worries. And, it’s important to have support for these fears before the birth.
▪︎ Unexpected crying
• All trimesters: Found yourself crying over a cute dog in the park, or literally over spilled milk? Yes, that’s totally normal.
First trimester crying is common as your hormones change. Hormonal shifts continue into the second and third trimesters, so randomly crying is a common occurrence throughout pregnancy.
▪︎ Anxiety
• First trimester:
Anxiety is common throughout all the trimesters of pregnancy.
In the first trimester, anxiety about miscarriage and bodily sensations from your growing uterus may happen. Anxiety over whether you’re eating right, drinking enough water, and exercising enough are also common.
• Second trimester:
Pregnant women may find themselves getting anxious about how much their bodies are growing. Are you too big or too small?
You may also experience their first kicks during the later stage of the second trimester, but these can be affected by whether you have a posterior or anterior placenta. The latter makes it harder to feel the baby’s movements. This can be anxiety-provoking to new moms.
• Third trimester:
At 28 weeks, women are asked to monitor their babies movements. It’s easy to become obsessive over this, and panic over whether they’re feeling their baby enough. Plus wondering whether the movements are normal and when to seek advice.
Other common worries near the end of pregnancy center around the birth, and the fact life is going to be very different with a new baby.
▪︎ Anger
• All trimesters:
Anger can happen throughout each trimester. Women may find themselves especially angry during the first trimester, as their hormones first start to rise.
Pregnancy can also be frustrating since it comes with many unpleasant side effects (and can be hella uncomfortable). This can cause a lot of irritability and anger over things that don’t seem such a big deal to non-pregnant people.
▪︎ Low self-esteem and body image struggles
• First trimester:
During the first trimester you’re getting used to the fact you’re creating a life inside of you. Your body doesn’t typically physically change much during the first 12 weeks. However, you may experience some bloat and get upset when you can no longer button up your jeans.
• Second trimester:
Many women start to “show” when they’re around 14 weeks pregnant. This can be a very exciting or difficult time, especially if body image issues were present before pregnancy.
You may also struggle with seeing other pregnant women who are bigger or smaller than you, and may find yourself comparing yourself to them.
• Third trimester: The third trimester is generally when you’re at your biggest, and it can become super uncomfortable. Some women may start to feel self-conscious, which can affect intimacy.
You may also struggle with comments such as “You’re so big!” and “Wow! Are you expecting twins?” These can have a negative effect on confidence and make you wonder whether you’re actually “too big.” The change in weight can also be upsetting for some women even though it’s completely normal.
▪︎ Sexual drive
Most women experience an elevated sex drive, especially in the second trimester. While for some, the idea of having sexual intercourse during pregnancy is strange, others tend to enjoy it. The increased libido is a result of increased blood flow in your body. Sexual intercourse during pregnancy is mostly safe.
Coping with mood swings during pregnancy
Mood swings during pregnancy are pretty much an inevitable part of pregnancy. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to make it a little easier. Here are some things you can do to cope.
▪︎ Be Patient With Yourself
This is a big one. The only thing worse than feeling bad is feeling bad about the fact that you’re feeling bad. Remember that you’re not alone in your experience, that hormones are to blame for much of what you feel, and that this will all pass with time.
▪︎ Talk to Your Partner and Kids
You might lose your temper, or start to cry unexpectedly. Let your partner—and your kids—know it’s not them. Apologize in advance for those momentary periods of irritability. When talking to your kids, however, be careful not to blame the baby for your moods.
▪︎ Prepare for Waves of Morning Sickness
Emotionally, one of the worst parts about morning sickness is that it can strike without warning. This can make you feel out of control, and that can lead to mood swings and worry. To lessen the fears, try to be prepared.Carry around snacks for sudden hunger pangs. If your morning sickness is triggered by unpleasant or strong odors, try carrying something that smells good, to quickly grab and block the unwanted scents.
▪︎ Prioritize Sleep
In the first trimester, you’re likely to be tired no matter how much you sleep. During the third trimester, you may struggle to get comfortable, and that leads to a lack of sleep. But you need sleep.If you can take a nap during the day, take one.
▪︎ Find a Supportive Friend
Feeling fat and “ugly” when you’re looking for pregnancy clothes? Take someone with you who will stand outside the dressing room and tell you how beautiful you are.
You can also take a friend to prenatal appointments. This can be your partner, your friend, or a relative.
▪︎ Connect With Other Expecting Moms
Talking to others about your mood swings and worries can help you feel normal. There are forums and social media groups just for expecting mothers. You can likely find local support groups as well on sites.
▪︎ Put Down the Fear-Based Pregnancy Books
Of course, you want to have a healthy pregnancy. And of course, you want to be informed so you can make educated choices about your prenatal care, diet, and upcoming birth. However, if those pregnancy books are making you anxious, don’t read them. Find something more positive to read or ask your doctor directly during your prenatal checks.
▪︎ Take a Childbirth Course
Being fearful of delivery day is common. The more you know, and the more supported you feel, the less anxious you’ll be.
▪︎ Try Yoga or Meditation
Yoga and meditation can help reduce anxiety and increase feelings of well-being.There are many free meditation apps online to try. If you decide to take a yoga class, make sure it’s for pregnant women.
Keep in mind that mood swings are a totally normal part of pregnancy. Don’t suffer in silence just because mood swings are “normal.” Seeking help can help get you through it. Finding ways to help your mood swings sooner rather than later, will also help you have the best experience becoming a new mom.
For informative articles on pregnancy and other health issues, please visit our website www.santripty.com and also feel free to consult.