Table of content

• What are pregnancy mood swings?

• What causes pregnancy mood swings?

• What are the signs of Pregnancy mood swings?

• Pregnancy hormones and mood swings

• How to manage pregnancy mood swings?

• When to see a doctor for Pregnancy mood swings?

• Take-Home Points

• FAQ on mood swings during pregnancy

Introduction

Even though pregnancy is good news for everyone, you would find yourself in the web of negative emotions. These emotions are due to the various hormonal and physical changes that occur within your body. Mood swings are difficult to handle if you have no idea about them. You need to understand the emotional facets of your pregnancy to make your journey better. 

What are pregnancy mood swings?

• Pregnancy mood swings are various sets of negative emotions like fear, anxiety, unexplained crying episodes, low self-esteem and increased insecurities over body image. 

• Pregnancy mood swings are taken seriously by every professional nowadays as they can affect the growing fetus. 

• Along with this, there are high chances of postpartum depression if these negative emotions are not diagnosed. 

What causes pregnancy mood swings?

Pregnancy is a big life event for any woman in her lifetime. Though it is a happy event, there are various changes in the body during pregnancy which influence your mental health. Pregnancy mood swings start in the first trimester and their effects sometimes continue even during the postpartum period. 

What are the signs of Pregnancy mood swings?

Pregnancy mood swings are usually characterised by, 

• High irritability 

• Unexplained crying 

• The feeling of doom and uncertainty

• Depression

• Panic attacks

• Unnecessary anger towards partners 

Pregnancy hormones and mood swings

Here are some of the emotions associated with the different trimesters of the pregnancy, 

Early pregnancy mood swings / first trimester

During the first trimester, you would experience a lot of fear. This is because the initial days of pregnancy are filled with a lot of probabilities of possible miscarriages. Along with fear, there would be the presence of anxiety, and anger. You won't notice any noticeable changes physically, therefore you won't have any serious body issue images.

Pregnancy mood swings second trimester

The second trimester mostly includes physical changes in the body like a bulging abdomen and bending backbone. The fear and anxiety are usually low during this time compared to the other two trimesters. This trimester would be marked by the rise in the insecurity of the body image. 

Pregnancy mood swings in the third trimester

The third trimester is marked by fear and anxiety over the delivery of the child more than any other emotions. You would also find yourself getting sudden outbursts due to these negative emotions then and there. 

Pregnancy mood swings ruin the relationship

It is very common to experience relationship problems during pregnancy due to pregnancy mood swings. This happens due to hormones like oestrogen and progesterone, which are responsible for irritation, anger and frustration. 

How to manage pregnancy mood swings?

Here are some of the steps that can be taken to manage the pregnancy mood swings,

Sleep well

Sleep is the best medicine - you have all heard about it. Having good sleep can help you manage many serious mental illnesses. You might feel uncomfortable falling asleep during your gestation period, especially in the first trimester. But if you try some breathing exercises, your sleeping schedule would be easy. 

Eat healthy foods

You are what you eat and that's why you should be very careful in choosing the food. Include more fruits and vegetables in your diet which has high vitamins and minerals. Many studies have shown that the foods you eat directly affect your mental health. 

Get a good exercise 

Even though heavy workouts are not possible during the gestation period, you can still get good exercise which is prescribed during pregnancy. Along with small muscle exercises, you can try breathing exercises for good emotional regulation. 

Talk to your loved ones 

Talking from your heart without any filters reduces your emotional baggage. You need an outlet to empty your negative emotions. Talking to your loved ones would be therapy for you during the harsh days. 

Don't be hard on yourself

Remember that pregnancy is a tough journey and all your negative emotions are valid even if they are negative. You should be kind to yourself and not let the emotions overwhelm you. 

When to see a doctor for Pregnancy mood swings?

If the mood swings get so severe and if you have a history of depression, anxiety or other mental disorders, it's better to get checked with the doctor. If left unchecked, these mental illnesses along with pregnancy mood swings can worsen your mental health. 

Take-Home Points

• Pregnancy mood swings are characterised by the feelings like anger, fear, anxiety, and helplessness.

• Pregnancy mood swings are common but they need immediate attention to prevent any serious effects on the child or mother. 

• These negative emotions can be contained by having good sleep, food, exercise and therapy.