Mood swings are a fact of life for women expecting. It’s the chaotic result of raging hormones, drastic physical changes, and overwhelming uncertainties of pregnancy. But there are ways to keep your sanity intact during this life milestone. Here’s how you can cope with mood swings at each stage of the pregnancy.
On the First Trimester
According to OBGYN doctors from Salt Lake City, there’s a rapid increase in estrogen levels during the first trimester. Sharp changes in these hormones cause mood imbalances, particularly triggering anxiety and irritability. Your progesterone also increases in this phase. This hormone is associated with relaxation, prompting muscles to ease up to avoid premature contractions in the uterus.
While relaxation sounds good to counter the anxiety and irritability, some experience being too relaxed that they just feel sluggish and sleepy. All of these would mean you slipping in and out of worry and fatigue while also dealing with the discomfort of morning sickness. The best thing to do here is to listen to your body and emotions. If you feel anxious, talk to your spouse about it. If you feel sleepy, don’t fight the urge and take a nap. Try as much as you can to identify what it is you’re experiencing.
On the Second Trimester
At this phase, hormones are still changing, but it’s less drastic than the first three months. You probably would feel more energy now. In fact, most women experience an increase in libido. Nonetheless, beware of triggers for mood swings. Like the visible changes in your body size and shape.
For some, this is one of the things they look forward to. But for others, this can be the scariest, especially when there’s a long history of struggling with body image issues. If you’re part of the latter group, it’s more critical to keep open communication with your OBGYN. Doctors often recommend a nutrition plan and counselling programs for pregnant women who suffered eating disorders before.
Another trigger you should keep an eye on is the tendency to overthink. With a growing bulge, you would feel all the more that this is real, and so, concerns for the baby’s health and safety and your parenting style later can quite consume you. If you start over worrying about these, talk to your partner about it.
On the Third Trimester
As the day of giving birth comes near, you’d feel a mix of fear, anxiety and nervousness. Of course, there’s also excitement. These emotions might rob you of a decent sleep as you await the day. Plus, it can indeed be difficult to get some rest because of the need to go to the bathroom now and then and the feeling of being so huge. When you don’t get enough sleep, this could lead to irritability and mood swings.
To get some decent snooze, consider getting a special pregnancy pillow and try to cut back a little on fluids as you approach bedtime. Note that you may also experience feelings of inadequacy, not feeling prepared for the baby as the delivery day approaches. Share these feelings with your partner.
The roller coaster of emotions during pregnancy is normal. Nonetheless, they can still be nerve-wracking. Consult your doctor and draw support from your loved ones as you tackle the growing pains, at the same time, discover the wonders of pregnancy.