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Pregnancy Symptoms
11/29/2008 - by Anne Marie Nielson
Pregnancy Mood
Swings
You can't watch a show on TV with a pregnant woman on it
without the jokes about pregnancy mood swings. All the jokes
aside, mood swings during pregnancy are very real. Some women
have very mild mood swings; some have more extreme mood swings.
For the majority of pregnant women, it is a combination that
falls somewhere in between.
Pregnancy brings its own stresses and it can be overwhelming at
times. Between worrying about the baby, the birth, finances and
other stresses, it is easy to see why it can be overwhelming.
This can happen even if you are really happy about the coming
baby.
Mood swings can also be caused by physical changes in your body
and metabolism, hormonal fluctuations and fatigue. Hormone
changes will affect the neurotransmitters in your brain, which
regulate mood. They are most commonly experienced during the
first and third trimesters, when hormonal levels are changing
and you are feeling more fatigue.
Physical changes and symptoms can cause you to feel down in the
dumps. Some women revel in these changes, while others may
interpret their new body as "fat." This can make some women
feel really uncomfortable with themselves and affect their
self-image. Hormones can also affect how you feel about
yourself, and about what is happening around you. You may find
yourself laughing one moment, and crying the next.
Some things you can do to help alleviate the severity of mood
swings during pregnancy include taking time to bond with your
partner. By nurturing your relationship now, your partner will
not only have a better understanding of how you're feeling, but
will help build a solid foundation for adding a baby into the
mix.
Take some time to rest. Taking time for yourself will help you
feel better about the pregnancy and about yourself. Your baby
will benefit as well from less stress hormones.
If you keep your worries bottled up inside, you are paving the
way for killer mood swings as you become overwhelmed with
worry. Talk your worries out with your partner, family member
or a friend. This helps relieve the stress and keeps you
communicating with your family. Take time to listen, too.
Find ways to relieve your stress. Try to get enough sleep, eat
nutritious food, get some exercise and give yourself some time
for fun. Perhaps you'd like a prenatal massage… it feels great
and will release a whole lot of stress. Learn to say "no" if
you are overbooked. Maybe you'll want to learn some yoga or
meditation techniques. It can work wonders in helping you
relax. If all else fails, talk to a counselor.
About 10% of women have prolonged mood swings that last longer
than two weeks. If you also notice a change in your sleeping
and eating habits, talk to your care provider. They should
refer you to a counselor. You may be experiencing depression or
other mood disorder. By getting the help you need as soon as
possible, you will be able to feel better and enjoy your
pregnancy.
At From Pregnancy To Baby, we try
to provide you with all of the latest information about going
through your pregnancy from your first trimester to the first
years of your new babies life. We also provide the highest
quality books and products to help you through that time.
Source: http://www.frompregnancytobaby.com/pregnancy-mood-swings.html
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