If you’re pregnant, you probably have faced mood swings sometime or another. Mood swings during pregnancy are common. You may feel the excitement about being pregnant, but can also be stressed or overwhelmed. Constant worries about your baby and your health may also contribute to your mood swings.
Questions like ‘Will I be a good parent?’, ‘How am I going to manage my finances?’, ‘Will my baby be healthy’ can be the root cause of your worries. Understanding that pregnancy is a life changing event, full of physical and emotional changes can help you deal with it. When you’re in sync with these changes, it will help you have a positive experience. Talking to a professional regarding these changes can help you cope.
CAUSES OF MOOD SWINGS DURING PREGNANCY
Mood swings during pregnancy may be caused by physical stresses, fatigue, changes in your metabolism, or by the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Significant changes in your hormone levels can also affect your level of neurotransmitters, which are nothing but brain chemicals that help regulate your mood.
Most women experience mood swings during the first trimester, between 6 to 10 weeks and then again in the third trimester as your body prepares for birth.
WAYS TO COPE
It is important to understand that you’re not alone with your mood swings. They are just another aspect of your pregnancy. Knowing that what you are experiencing is normal, can help you cope. Here are some ways to manage your stress levels:
- Get plenty of sleep
- Take a break during the day to relax
- Get regular physical activity
- Eat well
- Spend time with loved ones
- Get enough rest
- Go for a walk
- See a movie with a friend
- Try pregnancy yoga class or meditation
- Get a massage
WHEN TO SEE A PROFESSIONAL
If your mood swings last more than two weeks and do not seem to get better, ask your doctor to refer you to a professional counselor. Many women are affected by depression each year and it is most prevalent in women during their childbearing years. Some of the symptoms of depression include:
- Recurrent anxiety and increased irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Changes in eating habits
- Inability to concentrate on anything for very long
- Short-term memory loss
If your mood swings become more frequent and intense, it is important that you speak with your doctor about options for dealing with severe mood swings, anxiety or depression. Our professionals at KIMS Cuddles can help you cope with mood swings. Schedule your appointment today.
*Information shared here is for general purpose Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.
