Pregnancy

Mood Swings during Pregnancy

If you are already pregnant, you will find yourself with mood swings beginning in the early days after your missed period. In fact, mood swings are a common issue during the first trimester of pregnancy, and coming back again when the third trimester arrives. This behavior occurs because of the hormonal changes you are suffering at this stage of your life.

Hormonal changes usually affect your levels of neurotransmitters, which are the chemical messengers in your brain, changing the patterns in your mind and feelings associated with motherhood. Although every woman responds differently to these hormonal changes, in a large number of women the result is heightened emotions, including depression, anxiety, excessive happiness or sorrow, either for short or large periods of time.

Not only hormonal changes bring on mood swings but constant worries also contribute to them. If your pregnancy is making you feel stressed or overwhelmed, it is more likely you will experience mood swings, which moodiness will flare up at around 6 to 10 weeks. Because pregnancy brings to your life and your environment a number of changes, understanding them will help you to control mood swings, having a positive pregnancy experience.

In addition to changes and concerns, physical symptoms of pregnancy contribute also with mood swings. Certainly, it will not be pleasant to suffer discomforts, such as fatigue, morning sickness, frequent urination, or heartburn, and still feel happy. Although common discomforts, any of them can easily make you feel like you are losing control over your body and even over your life, triggering diverse mood swings.

However, you can manage all mood swings, first understanding these are normal at this stage of your life, and then making an effort to control your changes of mood by taking your pregnancy with ease. There is no rush, the baby will come over time and both you and your baby will be fine if you are following the medical advice and bond with your partner, strengthen your connection with him.

However, not only your partner, nurturing your relationship with all your friends and family, will also make you feel better, keeping your mind away of stressful concerns and providing you the support, you need. Putting your concerns into words generally will help you to dissipate them or it can bring the feedback or solutions that you need.

Exercising is the best way to manage your stress, but if your mood swings last for more than 2 weeks or so without any improvement, ask your doctor for a referral to a counselor or stress relief therapy.