“How Do I Cope With My Emotions During Pregnancy?”

How Do I Cope With My Emotions During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is an emotional time for most women, filled with as many ups as it is downs. During each of my pregnancies I found it quite normal to cry at any commercial depicting anything remotely sensitive or sad.  I would also laugh somewhat hysterically at times at events that seem rather ordinary when I’m not pregnant.

During pregnancy, I often found myself watching various labor and delivery programs or television shows talking about pregnancy. Maybe you’ve seen some of them… “Birth Day” “Yummy Mummy” and “House of Babies” are a few examples. Every time a baby was delivered, I found myself bursting into tears. I would sob for a good five minutes and get on with my day.

Now that I have delivered, this no longer happens. Not because I no longer find the birthing process beautiful. I truly believe it is amazing. But more because during pregnancy, your body is so full of progesterone and other hormones necessary to carry your baby, you are simply subject to a wealth of emotional ups and downs.

It is very common to cry unexpectedly during pregnancy. You may also experience other emotions including anger, frustration, anxiety, joy and even fear. Sometimes it may seem these emotions are overwhelming. You may find your husband or partner exasperated at your rapidly changing moods.

There are fortunately some great strategies you can adopt to cope with your changing emotions.

Top Emotion Coping Strategies During Pregnancy

1.  Communicate regularly with your partner. Let them know how you are feeling, particularly when feeling out of sorts. Suggest your partner accompany you to your doctor’s visits. Your doctor may help your partner understand why your emotions are so volatile and provide your partner with strategies for helping both of you cope with mood swings.
2.  Get enough sleep. If you can, try and take a nap during the day. Emotions during pregnancy often swing most excessively when pregnant women are over tired or over stressed.
3.  Consider a stress reduction class. Yoga and meditation are wonderful activities that not only improve your physical well-being but also help reduce stress. Too much stress can make rapidly changing emotions seem overwhelming.
4.  Get some physical activity every day. Even if you only have time to walk around the block, be sure you get some regular physical activity. This will improve your outlook on life and your general sense of well being.
5.  Consider an evening out with your partner. This will remind you how much fun you had together before your pregnancy and encourage you to remain positive throughout your pregnancy.
6.  Consider an online support group for pregnant parents. If you haven’t already, check out the womenshealthcare forums where you’ll find many women experiencing the same ups and downs you are during pregnancy.
7.  Pamper yourself on occasion. This may involve a pedicure or prenatal massage. Simply taking five minutes out of each day to pamper yourself can also improve your outlook during pregnancy dramatically.

If you find you are depressed more often than not during pregnancy, be sure you consult with your healthcare provider. Depression during pregnancy is quite common and can result in serious post partum complications. Fortunately your doctor can work with you to decide on a safe and effective treatment choice during pregnancy.