What to Expect with Pregnancy Mood Swings

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image © Kit4na; Flickr.com

Pregnancy can be a joyous time, but many pregnant women feel a variety of emotions, some not so joyous in nature. Pregnancy mood swings have long been a topic of discussion. However, many women are still surprised at the overwhelming emotions and mood changes they experience while pregnant. Below you will see some common emotional changes that affect pregnancy, as well as methods used to deal with those changes where necessary. Also included are some stress relieving techniques to be used whenever necessary.

Excessive Crying

Crying is very common in pregnant women. Hormones are at high levels, so normal thoughts of sadness can be multiplied easily. Some women find themselves crying over commercials, shows, movies, and life events, either out of happiness or sadness.

The simplest way to avoid this is to try and avoid sad movies or those with exceedingly happy endings. However, crying is actually good for you sometimes, so I wouldn't recommend avoiding these completely. If you are crying because of life events, where possible try to stay away from people or places that are upsetting you and/or talk to those people to see what they can do to help.

Unless the crying is caused by a form of depression or mood disorder, this is quite normal and nothing to worry about.

Angering Too Easily

While pregnancy can give you that glow, the hormonal increase can also cause some women to snap at a moment's notice. Depending on the individual, actions or events that cause these outbursts can be either mild, such as forgetting she wanted 3 ice cubes rather than 2, or as complex as forgetting it's her birthday.

Even women who are usually calm can experience these emotional outbursts.
If these outbursts seem too extreme, always contact your doctor to be sure you do not need to seek help from a therapist or medication. With this hormonal response, sometimes simple stress relief techniques can be very effective.

Being Extremely Happy or Excited

Joy and happiness can sometimes be greatly multiplied during pregnancy. Excitement can seem to be overly expressed at even the smallest of things. You might experience tears (and even jumps) for joy. This is perhaps the greatest of all emotional experiences during pregnancy. Treatment is likely not needed or recommended for this one. The only prescription you'll generally need here is that is of enjoying those joyous times.

Stress Relief Techniques

Simply taking a deep breath and holding it in for a few seconds before exhaling can help. Some may need to do this more than once for a full effect. However, don't do this too much, as you don't want to make yourself dizzy. If this technique is failing, simply try another.

Prenatal yoga is also an excellent way to relax.

Soaking in a warm bath can soothe the muscles as well as the nerves. Just don't make it too hot. Steam is not good for pregnant women.

Ask your partner for a relaxing massage. If your partner is not available, you might want to spring for a professional prenatal massage.

Talk to your doctors to determine if your symptoms and feelings need treatment by medication or therapy or not. Some extreme emotions may be an indicator of more dangerous issues, such as prenatal depression. Be sure all doctors know you are pregnant and are in communication with your prenatal care provider, in case any medicine needs to be prescribed. If medicine is necessary, talk to your medical professionals in detail to be sure you are getting medication that has the least effect on the baby as possible.

Conclusion

Women's health is important during pregnancy. Be sure to follow your doctor's advice. It is important to remember that not everyone will have the same experiences. With my experience, these hormone induced moods can happen during all trimesters of pregnancy. However, each person and each pregnancy can vary.