Very emotional pregnant

Emotions during pregnancy | Pregnancy articles & support

Your emotions might not necessarily only revolve around excitement when you’re pregnant. Find out why this happens and how to manage emotions in pregnancy.

Hormonal changes in pregnancy along with your own personal circumstances can lead to strong emotions and moods (Bjelica et al, 2018). While partners don’t experience hormonal changes they can have strong emotions to deal with during pregnancy too (Finnbogadóttir et al, 2003).

Here we explain how the hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect your emotions and how you can enhance your wellbeing.

Hormonal changes in pregnancy

As soon as a woman becomes pregnant, their body begins to prepare for safeguarding and maintaining the pregnancy. This increases levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone in their blood. Read more about what these hormones do in your body in our article about pregnancy hormones.

Higher levels of progesterone and oestrogen are important for a healthy pregnancy, but are often the cause of some common unwanted side effects. This is especially true in the first trimester.

Apart from sickness and tiredness, it's common to have mood swings and feel tearful or easily irritated (Society for Endocrinology, 2018). Once the body has adapted to the higher levels of these hormones, the symptoms usually wear off. However, some women will experience them throughout their pregnancy.

Emotions in pregnancy

Aside from emotional ups and downs caused by rising hormone levels in the first three months, the feeling of growing a new life can be exciting and awe-inspiring. It is also common to feel anxious, vulnerable and overwhelmed by the big changes that pregnancy and a new baby will bring (Bjelica et al, 2018). This can be particularly true for parents who are pregnant after previous loss or following fertility treatment.

Even if you feel excited by the pregnancy, you may have some unsettling thoughts. Perhaps there will also be some difficult decisions to make. Many women have questions that they ask of themselves. They might doubt their ability as a mother, how their relationship might change or how they will manage financially (Öhman et al, 2003). Other normal worries include:

What if I do something accidentally to harm the baby, like eating or drinking something I shouldn’t?
Should I stop having sex while pregnant?
What will the birth be like?
Will my life go back to normal afterwards, for example can I return to work?

Partners also experience similar concerns during pregnancy (Finnbogadóttir et al, 2003).

Coping with emotions during pregnancy

It can be hard to think clearly or feel positive when you are feeling worried and tired. Taking good physical care of yourself, especially getting plenty of rest and sleep, may help to keep troubling emotions in proportion (MIND, 2020).

It can be helpful to eat several small, healthy meals a day and try to avoid sugary foods and fizzy drinks (MIND, 2017; NHS, 2020a).

Gentle to moderate exercise can help to improve mood and general fitness in pregnancy, helping you prepare for labour and avoid some complications of pregnancy (Prather et al, 2012; ACOG, 2020). Try to build in some activity every day. Avoid contact sports or any strenuous exercise, particularly if you weren’t active before your pregnancy (NHS, 2020b).

Finding out about benefit entitlements, midwife appointments, how you can eat healthily in pregnancy and what you might prepare for your baby can feel overwhelming. So having a to-do list can help you get these things organised in your mind. This NHS to-do list contains lots of useful information. Maybe share your to-do list with your partner or a supportive friend or relative; they might be able to offer you support in ticking some items off that list.

Talk it out

Bottling up concerns could increase your anxiety. Discussing your feelings and worries with someone who makes you feel comfortable can help you regulate your emotions and limit worry and anxiety (Torre and Lieberman, 2018).

Talking to other expectant parents may also reveal that you are not alone in your experiences, as well as providing peer support (McLeish and Redshaw, 2017). Joining an NCT antenatal course, a pregnancy yoga class, or a ‘bumps and babies’ group can give you an instant support network. You can find out here what local NCT activities are happening in your area.

Live in the moment

It may help to give yourself a rest, focus on your unborn baby and take time to enjoy the pregnancy. Or it might help to spend some time thinking about and doing things that aren’t related to the pregnancy. Maybe that includes indulging in your favourite hobby, catching up with friends or watching the new box office hit at the cinema.

Practising mindfulness techniques can be another useful way of managing big or changeable emotions (MIND, 2020). Using mindfulness could help you stay in the present moment, and provide you with other skills to help you deal with stressful situations and anxieties in pregnancy (Dunn et al, 2012; Matvienko-Sikar et al, 2016).

Calming techniques

Some people find listening to music and singing helpful in calming emotions and enhancing wellbeing in pregnancy (Chang et al, 2008; Wulff et al, 2021). Writing about your emotions and noting down how you feel about stressful events can also be a good tool for managing stress and anxiety (Ullrich and Lutgendorf, 2002).

Research shows that for some pregnant women, massage can be good for reducing anxiety and boosting mood (Field et al, 1999; Field et al, 2004). Also, attending antenatal yoga classes has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and support you in preparing for birth (Kwon, 2020). Check that your massage therapist or yoga instructor is trained in working with pregnant women to ensure that your treatment is safe and effective.

When you might need more support with your emotions

It is important to recognise that there is a difference between regular pregnancy emotions and a mental health issue. Pregnancy can be a time when parents experience mental health issues for the first time (NHS, 2021).

Around one in eight women experience depression or anxiety when they’re pregnant (NICE, 2014). And around one in ten dads experience antenatal depression (Paulson and Bazemore, 2010).

Find out more here about the range of mental health symptoms that can occur and how to get support.

This page was last reviewed in March 2022.

Further information

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby: 0300 330 0700.

We also offer antenatal courses which are a great way to find out more about birth, labour and life with a new baby.

Best Beginnings have a range of videos on emotions in pregnancy and after birth for mums and dads.

Healthtalk has videos of women talking about their experiences of early pregnancy:

Symptoms and feelings in early weeks

Emotions during pregnancy

References

ACOG. (2020) Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 804. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135:e178-88. Available at: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/artic… [Accessed 8th March 2022]

Bjelica A, Cetkovic N, Trninic-Pjevic A, Mladenovic-Segedi L. (2018) The phenomenon of pregnancy—a psychological view. Ginekologia Polska. 89(2):102-106. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5603/GP.a2018.0017

Chang MY. Chen CH. Huang KF. (2008) Effects of music therapy on psychological health of women during pregnancy. J Clin Nurs. 17(19):2580-2587. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02064.x

Dunn C, Hanieh E, Roberts R, Powrie R. (2012) Mindful pregnancy and childbirth: effects of mindfulness-based intervention on women’s psychological distress in the perinatal period. Arch Women Ment Health. 15(2):139-143. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0264-4

Field T, Hemandez-Reif M, Hart S, Theakston H, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. (1999) Pregnant women benefit from massage therapy. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 20(1):31-38. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3109/01674829909075574

Field T, Diego MA, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. (2004) Massage therapy effects on depressed pregnant women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 25(2):115-122. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/01674820412331282231

Finnbogadóttir H, Svalenius EC, Persson EK. (2003) Expectant first-time fathers’ experiences of pregnancy. Midwifery. 19(2):96-105. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-6138(03)00003-2

Kwon R, Kasper K, London S, Haas DM. (2020) A systematic review: the effects of yoga on pregnancy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 250:171-177. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.03.044

McLeish J, Redshaw M. (2017) Mothers’ accounts of the impact on emotional wellbeing of organised peer support in pregnancy and early parenthood: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 17(1):1-14. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1220-0

MIND. (2017) Food and mood. Available at: https://www. mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/fo… [Accessed 8th April 2021]

MIND. (2020) How to improve your mental wellbeing. Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/we… [Accessed 14th December 2021]

NICE. (2014) Antenatal and postnatal mental health. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical management and service guidance CG192. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG192 [Accessed 8th March 2022]

NHS. (2020a) Have a healthy diet in pregnancy. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/have-a-healthy-diet/ [Accessed 8th March 2022]

NHS. (2020b) Exercise in pregnancy. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/exercise [Accessed 14th December 2021]

NHS. (2021) Mental health problems and pregnancy. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/mental-health-problems-pregnant/ [Accessed 8th March 2022]

Matvienko-Sikar K, Lee L, Murphy G, Murphy L. (2016) The effects of mindfulness interventions on prenatal well-being: a systematic review. Psychol Health. 31(12):1415-1434. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2016.1220557

Öhman SG, Grunewald C, Waldenström U. (2003) Women'’s worries during pregnancy: testing the Cambridge Worry Scale on 200 Swedish women. Scand J Caring Sci. 17(2):148-152. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-6712.2003.00095.x

Paulson JF, Bazemore SD. (2010) Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 303(19):1961-1969. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.605

Prather H, Spitznagle T, Hunt D. (2012) Benefits of exercise during pregnancy. PM R. 4(11):845-850. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.07.012

Society for Endocrinology. (2018) Hormones of pregnancy and labour. Available at: http://www.yourhormones.info/topical-issues/hormones-of-pregnancy-and-labour/ [Accessed 8th March 2022]

Torre JB, Lieberman MD. (2018) Putting feelings into words: affect labeling as implicit emotion regulation. Emot Rev. 10(2):116-124. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073917742706

Ullrich, Philip M, Lutgendorf, Susan K. (2002) Journaling about stressful events: effects of cognitive processing and emotional expression. Ann Behav Med. 24(3):244-250. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1207/S15324796ABM2403_10

Wulff V, Hepp P, Wolf OT, Balan P, Hagenbeck C, Fehm T, Schaal NK. (2021) The effects of a music and singing intervention during pregnancy on maternal well-being and mother–infant bonding: a randomised, controlled study. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 303(1):69-83. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-020-05727-8

Pregnancy Emotions - American Pregnancy Association

Changing emotions during pregnancy are for many women, one of the most common side effects during pregnancy. It can be frustrating and exhausting to shift from one emotion to another and be unable to explain what emotion you are feeling and why. For those who were not very emotional prior to pregnancy, this onslaught of pregnancy emotions may be especially startling.

Why Am I So Emotional?

First, it’s important to remind yourself not to feel guilty or ashamed, if you are in a particular emotional state. Heightened pregnancy emotions are to be expected. There are many external and internal factors which can cause an increase in your emotional state during pregnancy, and it does not mean you are “moody” or “crazy.”Pregnancy emotions are a normal part of development.

Hormones

During pregnancy, women experience an increase in the production of hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, depending on how far along they are in their pregnancy.his increase in hormones can have an impact on your emotions and your brain’s ability to monitor those emotions. This is very common and should not be a cause of concern unless you find yourself in a state of intense emotional instability and distress.

Stress

For many reasons, pregnancy can bring on additional stress. While starting a family is exciting and filled with a lot of joy, as the pregnancy progresses you may be concerned about the changes it will bring. Pregnant women may find themselves concerned with the future, finances, housing, support, employment, and medical care. This stress can cause emotions to rise, and distract from self-care that may help better manage these emotions.

Body Changes and Body Image

Some women may experience more physical discomfort during their pregnancy than others. As the body changes for your growing baby, you may experience many physical discomforts, from morning sickness to body aches. Body image issues may cause you to feel less physically attractive, as you look in the mirror and see some of the changes in your body. Any of these things can impact both mental and physical health, which adds to stress and can cause a disruption in normal emotions.

Fatigue

Whether from discomfort or stress, many women may experience difficulty sleeping during pregnancy. Lack of sleep has been shown to have a profound impact on a person’s emotional state. So, if your pregnancy is causing vivid dreams or making sleep difficult, this can perpetuate a heightened emotional state and make emotions difficult to manage.

Ways to Cope with Pregnancy Emotions

While it may seem overwhelming, there are many things you can do to cope and make your emotions more manageable.
Some suggestions include:

Self-care: Listen to your body and mind and be aware of what you need. If a bubble bath sounds relaxing, do it. If you need time alone to relax and read a book or get a pedicure, make time for it.

Sleep: Getting 8 hours of good sleep can do amazing things for your emotional state. While this may not always be possible, do everything you can to get a healthy amount of sleep. You can experiment with sleeping positions, let your partner know if you are having difficulty sleeping so the two of you can come up with a plan to make sure you are getting the sleep you need.

Diet: Like sleep, what you eat is a great natural way to help with your mood and emotions. Eating healthy and natural foods, instead of processed foods, promotes both physical and mental health, which contributes to increased emotional stability.

Support: A supportive and encouraging group of people surrounding you is incredibly important during pregnancy. Making close family and friends aware of your emotions and having people to talk to when you feel overwhelmed is extremely helpful for your emotional health. In some cases, if you are having difficulty with your emotions, professional counseling may be an option to explore.

Pregnancy can be a beautiful time, but it’s important to be prepared for the changes that may occur in your emotional state. It is important to remember pregnancy emotions are normal and not to feel guilty for the array of emotions you are feeling but to be aware of them and respond in a healthy, positive way.
Let your doctor know if you feel like your emotions are extremely unstable, you are experiencing severe depression, or having thoughts of suicide. In these cases, medical intervention or professional counseling may be necessary.

Want to Know More?

7 Common Discomforts of Pregnancy
Pregnancy and Ice Cream
The Ultimate Pregnancy Pillow

Compiled from the following sources:
Gibbs, R. (2008). Prenatal Care. In Danforth’s obstetrics and gynecology (10th ed., p. 18). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Harms, R. (2004). Mayo Clinic guide to a healthy pregnancy (1st ed.). New York: HarperResource.
Jordan, R. (2014). Exercise, Recreational and occupational issues, and intimate relationships in pregnancy. In Prenatal and postnatal care: A woman-centered approach (pp. 274-279). Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.

Pregnancy and emotions | Nutriclub

The joy of the impending appearance of a new person and the energy that is in full swing during pregnancy can be replaced by fears, insecurity, sadness and anxiety for the future. Sometimes these changes happen at breakneck speed. Nutriclub will try to understand how the emotional state changes during pregnancy and what it is connected with.

How the emotional state changes depending on the trimester

First trimester

In the first trimester, the level of the hormone progesterone increases significantly, which is responsible for attaching a fertilized egg to the uterine wall, preparing the body for pregnancy and childbirth, and for the state of the woman's nervous system. Due to the rise in progesterone levels during this time, you may tire more quickly than usual. A constant desire to go to bed can also become your companion during this period. Don't fight biology, lie down and rest whenever you can.

In the first trimester, you may experience elation, anxiety, excitement and exhaustion (sometimes all at the same time!). Even if you are very excited about the upcoming changes in your life, your new state can cause stress. Another common companion of this period of pregnancy is sudden mood swings. Know that what you are experiencing is normal and due to a hormonal rush. But if mood swings cause you significant discomfort, be sure to discuss them with your doctor.

Second trimester

Many consider this time to be the most pleasant during pregnancy: toxicosis is already receding, it is not difficult to carry the stomach yet, and the baby inside begins to move noticeably (and this still looks like dancing butterflies in the stomach). Often in the second trimester there is a surge of energy. The emotional state at this time is usually the most stable: this is a great time to choose a maternity hospital, furnish a nursery and look for courses for future parents.

Third trimester

The day of childbirth is approaching, and with it the fear of childbirth may become more acute (especially if you are expecting your first child). You may be tormented by questions such as: “How much does it hurt?”, “How long will this last?”, “How will I deal with this?”. Courses for pregnant women will help to dampen this kind of anxiety, where they will tell you in detail about all the stages of childbirth and prepare you for various possible scenarios. When possible, experts recommend communicating with women who are happy with their birth experience and keeping a diary of their emotions. Planning ahead can also help deal with fears: for example, if you are going to breastfeed, you may need suitable underwear and clothes for this. And, of course, it doesn't hurt to talk to women in your community who have had successful lactation experiences.

Fears during pregnancy: what they are and what to do about them

You may be worried about your health or the health of your child: pregnancy is not a disease, but it can have complications. Therefore, it is important to eat right, do not forget about physical activity and be in touch with your doctor in order to receive answers to emerging questions in a timely manner.

Another common fear is related to the financial situation or the housing problem. To minimize expenses, you can take care of buying used things in advance (or arrange with friends who will give you things for the baby for free - children grow up very quickly and do not have time to take down a bunch of clothes).

The fear of childbirth, which we have already mentioned above, occurs in most women, even if they are not giving birth for the first time. It helps a lot to cope with the fact that millions of women have already gone through this, some more than once - which means you can too.

Some women worry about their careers and see having children as a threat to their professional growth. Yes, maternity leave can really become a career brake - but it is up to you to plan everything so that your work is almost not affected. At the same time, many women, having given birth to a child, understand that a career is not so important now and make a choice in favor of spending his infancy with the baby. You can choose any option that suits you.

Pregnancy depression

It is absolutely normal to feel sad, longing, worrying and worrying about the future during pregnancy. But it is important to distinguish these conditions from a dangerous disease: pregnancy depression. The statistics* are as follows: from 14 to 23% of women experience depression during pregnancy.

How can you tell the usual mood swings in pregnancy from depression? It is difficult to do this without the help of a specialist, but there are a number of signs that may indicate that it is worth seeking help from professionals:

exhausting anxiety for the child
low self-esteem
inability to enjoy activities that normally bring joy
insufficient medical care during pregnancy
smoking, drug and alcohol use
insufficient weight gain due to poor diet
thoughts of suicide

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Caution: emotions! Why are expectant mothers so emotional

Health

Caution: emotions! Why are moms-to-be so emotional?

January 15, 2018 7 344 views

Liana Khaziakhmetova

Expecting a child is perhaps the most emotionally unstable period in a woman's life. The hormonal background is changing, every day there are more troubles and worries. Sometimes emotions take over so strongly that after a while it is even embarrassing to remember some actions. Here is the story told by the author of the book “I will be a mother” Marina Fogl.

“Once, when I was in the last months of my first pregnancy, I couldn't park in front of a supermarket. Finally, I noticed the place of "mother and child". It seemed convenient, because there I could safely get out of the car with my rather big tummy. After parking, I briskly walked to the entrance of the store, but I was stopped by a parking attendant, who asked insinuatingly: "Excuse me, madam, do you have a child with you?" I turned and stared at him: "I think it's pretty obvious that my child is my uterus." The overzealous parking attendant's jaw dropped, and I proudly walked on, quite pleased with my interpretation of the rules, although, of course, good manners let me down temporarily.

Almost all pregnant women are highly emotional. Often this is one of the first signs of pregnancy, which is very puzzling if a woman does not yet know that she is pregnant. You should tell your partner about increased emotionality. Don't worry, you won't remain forever a pampered, constantly sobbing young lady. But be prepared for the fact that, as a mother, you will react violently to stories about children.

Warn your spouse about increased emotionality during pregnancy, this will help to avoid unnecessary quarrels. Illustration from the book "I will be a mother"

Grouchiness and irritability increase with increasing gestational age. This is not surprising, because everyday life becomes more complicated. A woman gets fat, becomes clumsy, she constantly wants to go to the toilet, and even when everything is fine, she does not have enough energy to have fun. If you realize that you need to slow down the rhythm, then deal with irritability. At the same time, others should understand that your condition is caused by hormonal changes in the body. Instead of getting angry, they should support you and help you slow down.

For example, meditation will help to come to terms with a decrease in activity. The first steps are lightness and calmness. That is, you easily get used to the practices and understand that meditation is not hard work at all. You are immersed in calmness, it gives rise to a feeling of joy, and as soon as the mind feels this joy, it relaxes even more, which means that the calmness becomes even deeper - a virtuous cycle is working. This is the essence of how calmness becomes the first step to joy.

How long have you been in the bathroom? It's time to do what you love! Illustration from the book "I Will Be a Mom"

If you have already gone on maternity leave, you don't have to rush anywhere, and that's great! Try starting your morning with rituals. Waking up, you can allow yourself to enjoy the moment: the baby is with you, while he does not require food, attention or a diaper change.