Mood swings during pregnancy are common and usually result from hormone fluctuations. They’ll range from tears over a toilet paper commercial one moment, to outrage over something seemingly innocuous the next – all likely symptoms of fluctuating emotions caused by hormones.
Mood swings are common during pregnancy, yet some women may need additional assistance to address them. Working with a counselor may help identify between pregnany-related mood changes and depression and how each impacts you differently.
1. Know Yourself
One of the more difficult aspects of pregnancy can be managing mood swings, from feeling extreme joy to sudden anger or sadness. These shifts could be brought on by rapidly changing hormones, morning sickness, discomfort from an expanding uterus and body shape changes, lack of sleep or stress; among many other physical or emotional factors.
Not all mood shifts should be treated equally. Feeling low occasionally is normal, but persistent sadness or anxiety could indicate something more serious – seek medical help immediately by speaking to your GP/midwife and discussing these feelings with them.
Pregnancy can also lead women to be more critical of themselves than usual, leading them to feel that they aren’t managing well as a mother, especially after reading about what can go wrong during birth. Negative thoughts can become especially detrimental when coupled with feelings of hopelessness or guilt.
As they prepare for their baby’s arrival, women may find themselves caught up in nesting behaviors like building cribs and laundering onesies for future infants. While this is normal and necessary for success in motherhood, it is also essential to take the time to acknowledge and nurture maternal emotions as part of this journey.
As it’s essential to recognize your limits, knowing when it is time to seek medical help is also key. Untreated depression during pregnancy has the potential of leading to poor nutrition, premature labor and low birth weight as well as long-term cognitive and behavioral difficulties for both mother and baby. Psychotherapy or pregnancy-safe antidepressant medications may provide assistance.
2. Stay Connected
Have you ever experienced emotional roller-coasters while pregnant? These emotional fluctuations are normal. Hormones, fatigue, stress and morning sickness all play a part in driving these fluctuations; whether crying over cuteness of kitten or feeling blue due to forgetfulness on behalf of partner should provide enough reason for mood changes. Being connected with others helps ease these fluctuations so avoid isolating yourself during this period; get together with friends or family even for just short calls or texts saying “I’m thinking of you”.
Pregnancy-related moodiness often arises during the first trimester; however, symptoms may persist throughout your gestation. By remaining physically active, eating well, and taking care of yourself during gestation, you can help to regulate and smooth out any irregular mood swings that arise.
One effective way to stay connected during these trying times is to discuss your feelings with those close to you, particularly your partner or spouse. Being open and honest with them about what’s going on can help alleviate stress and tension while strengthening relationships in the long run. If mood disorders are an issue for you, counseling and support groups may also offer invaluable resources.
Depression and anxiety should never be taken for granted in pregnancy; if symptoms are debilitating and don’t subside with time, professional help should be sought immediately to continue having a happy and healthy gestation experience. In the meantime, don’t be shy about using pregnancy apps or speaking directly to your physician about any concerns regarding care needed during this stage. Stay away from gambling such as slots, pokers etc. as per Yoakim Bridge, during pregnancy, which might cause depression.
3. Find an Outlet
Pregnancy mood swings can be unnerving and disconcerting, often stemming from hormone fluctuations affecting levels of neurotransmitters in your brain causing you to be tearful or easily irritable. Furthermore, fatigue, stress and the fear of miscarrying (particularly during the first trimester) may play havoc with your emotions and negatively influence them.
Though these emotions can be uncomfortable, don’t let them get you down. Finding an outlet for them, such as talking with supportive friends and family members or joining an online mommy community or practicing mindfulness and meditation techniques, will be much more effective in keeping calm than trying to ignore or suppress them.
If you are experiencing severe, long-lasting mood fluctuations that are disrupting your daily activities, this could be an indicator of prenatal depression or anxiety. Speak with an obstetrician or mental health professional for further advice about what you should do next.
Mood swings don’t just occur during pregnancy; they can actually be an indication that your body is adapting to its newfound responsibility of bearing children, and are helping prepare you for one of life’s most rewarding and beautiful experiences. Don’t fight your emotional ups and downs; embrace them all as part of becoming a mom! And always remember: for healthy babies to thrive, starting with healthy moms.
4. Think Before You Speak
As soon as you announce your pregnancy, those close to you – doctors, nurses and even partners – tend to focus on its physical aspects; their primary concern being your and the baby’s wellbeing during gestation. Yet emotional turmoil associated with gestation may prove just as challenging.
As your moods fluctuate, it can be easy to be caught off guard and respond emotionally to things that usually don’t provoke such strong responses – like crying during a toilet paper commercial or getting angry with your partner for forgetting milk purchases, or becoming anxious over possible outcomes of labor and delivery.
At first glance, rapid fluctuations in emotions during pregnancy are completely normal and typically signal rapidly increasing hormone levels. But if these mood shifts become persistent and disrupt your daily routines, it may be important to seek professional assistance from either a counselor or physician.
Fatigue, sleep deprivation and impending life changes could all play a part in how hot or cold one may feel, but pregnancy hormone changes – estrogen and progesterone in particular – are most often the source of unpredictable feelings. Both these hormones influence serotonin production which plays a key role in happiness and well-being; low levels may even lead to depression or anxiety symptoms in some individuals.
5. Walk Away
Pregnancy can be a time of wonder and joy–but also one filled with emotional turmoil. One of the earliest indicators of pregnancy can be mood swings as early as week 4, which can often leave pregnant mothers reeling from emotional rollercoasters that fluctuate wildly from moment to moment. While mood changes may seem confusing or frustrating at first, they serve an essential purpose: they prepare you for motherhood!
At times, hormonal fluctuations are responsible for mood swings. Estrogen levels rising can make you feel both exhilarated and content, as well as angry or sad in an instant – it helps regulate emotions with serotonin-related brain chemicals like serotonin.
Fatigue, stress and the natural worries surrounding life changes can also play a part in mood swings. When dealing with such emotions, finding healthy methods of managing them and seeking professional assistance as needed are both helpful steps towards finding equilibrium in your feelings and finding mental health professionals to seek assistance when necessary can be highly effective in providing support and solutions.
Staying social is another effective way to lift your spirits, along with exercising or attending yoga or meditation classes. Eating nutritious food may also aid your recovery – aim to get at least eight hours sleep each night.
If mood swings are severe and impact your daily activities, seek help from either an obstetrician or psychologist. Depression and anxiety can be risk factors during pregnancy; getting assistance as soon as possible is never too late. A great therapist will assist in this time of great transition for all involved and give tools that may prevent mood swings from disrupting daily living.