Emotional changes during pregnancy

Pregnancy takes your mind and body through an ongoing stream of changes. On a basic level, your body is making unusual amounts of hormones. At certain times, this can make you feel exhausted, forgetful, or moody. On top of that, it is normal to be preoccupied with how your body is quickly changing, how to manage symptoms, how different your life is becoming, worry about the pregnancy going well, finances, and keeping up with everyday life.

It is common to go through many of the following changes in a pregnancy:

• First trimester. Extreme fatigue or morning sickness can color your daily life. Moodiness (as with premenstrual syndrome) is normal. Happiness and anxiety about a new pregnancy, or feeling upset about an unplanned pregnancy, are also common.
• Second trimester. Fatigue, morning sickness, and moodiness usually improve or go away. You may feel more forgetful and disorganized than before. Looking heavier than normal, then looking visibly pregnant and feeling the baby move, can make you feel any number of emotions.
• Third trimester. Forgetfulness may continue. As your due date nears, it is common to feel more anxious about the childbirth and how a new baby will change your life. As you feel more tired and uncomfortable, you may be more irritable than before.

For some women, serious anxiety or depression problems improve during pregnancy. For others, they do not. If you find no pleasure in daily life, or suffer from a lot of sleeplessness (insomnia), sadness, tearfulness, anxiety, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, irritability, appetite change, or poor concentration, talk to your health professional. Without treatment, mental health problems can get in the way of a healthy pregnancy.