Expecting a baby can be an emotional time. Positive psychology coach and new mum Charlotte Jones tells us more
Finding out that you’re pregnant is the most exciting news, but it’s also daunting – especially for first-time mums. From growing a baby and dealing with your body changing to working out how to raise a tiny human, having a child is a major life transformation.
You may also be dealing with a rollercoaster of emotions, thanks to a deluge of pregnancy hormones.
What’s going on in your body
Cara McCarthy (@the_insta_midwife) explains: ’Your body goes through a drastic change during the first weeks after conception, working hard to develop your baby from just a cell to an actual human. The hormones are surging through you at a pace that you’ve never experienced before.
Oestrogen is one of the hormones that sustains your baby until the placenta has developed enough to take over. Progesterone is also produced early on. Not only that, but your blood volume is increasing until it is almost double what it was at the time of conception.
It can be very tiring on your body, and this is why we tend to be a bit irritable or feel exhausted in the early weeks (and then again as you reach full term and feel heavy and tired). Your body is working so hard on developing your baby that other normal functions can take a back seat, including your happy mood!’
‘How we felt in pregnancy’: 3 mums share all
‘I was so stressed in my first trimester. I’m not going to lie; I thought something was wrong because I didn’t “feel pregnant” or have any symptoms. I also hadn’t had the reassurance of a scan yet. I was an emotional mess.’ CC Clarke (@ccclarke, mum to Bibi and Goldie)
‘To be completely honest, I was a bit of an anxious wreck in early pregnancy. I'm normally pretty good at “keeping it together”, but whenever I had a free moment, I would worry about the baby and fixate on the 12-week scan.’ Simone Shoffman (@sisishoffman, mum to Clayton and Skye)
‘I was upset when I fell pregnant because it was unplanned, but I also felt guilty for feeling this way. It was a confusing, emotional and lonely time for me. I felt anxious, yet at the same time I felt waves of happiness. My mood swings were working overtime: one minute I was fine, the next minute I was crying or flying off the handle.’ Charlotte Jones (@charlottejonsie, mum to Leo)
5 ways to manage mood swings
While we can’t put our hormones on pause during pregnancy, there are many ways to level out your mood and boost your happiness. Try these ideas out for size.
Take a ‘positivity pause’
Stop what you’re doing, take five to 10 deep breaths and ask yourself, 'Why am I feeling like this? What can I do to stop feeling like this?’ This resets your mindset and stops your emotions from taking over.
Dance to music
Even just a quick jiggle lifts your mood and releases feel-good hormones. Happy mum equals happy baby.
Take time for self-care
Try popping a face mask on and relaxing in a warm bath, going for a walk in the park, reading a book or indulging in your favourite hobby.
Watch some feel-good telly
Snuggle up under a soft blanket and watch something that makes you happy, such as a comedy series or favourite old movie.
Talk about how you feel
If you find it difficult to open up to your partner or friends, try speaking to your midwife or GP. You can also get support from other expectant mums at online forums Netmums or Mumsnet.
Depression during pregnancy
So, mood swings are common in pregnancy – phew! But how do we spot the difference between ‘normal’ low moods versus depression during this time?
Midwife Cara says, ‘If you find that your everyday activities are being compromised, if your relationship is under strain or you simply aren’t feeling better when you should start to see a lift (usually in the second trimester), it could be a sign of antenatal depression. Discuss this with your GP or midwife as soon as you can.’
What nobody tells you
Pregnancy is wonderful, joyous, exciting and nerve-racking, but it can also be tiring and hard. You should be prepared to feel all sorts of heightened emotions. Remember that it’s okay to feel them, and it’s okay to get support if you need it.
