My husband and I ttc for 3 years, and after a lot of bad news and fertility treatments, the miracle finally happened and I got pregnant. We couldn't have been more thrilled. I had a pretty easy first trimester (my second officially starting today), no nausea or vomiting, just a little fatigue. I am now 13 weeks 1 day, and for the past week or 2 my moods have completely changed. I have been extremely irritable and bitchy! One minute I am happy, the next minute I'm practically murderous, and 2 minutes later I'm reduced to tears! I feel down a lot, and everything bothers me! I can't even drive anymore without getting terrible road rage, I'm on the verge of killing my husband and mother, and don't even get me started on the morons I have to deal with at work. Its all becoming too much for me to handle all of a sudden. Its like the hormones just kicked in! Has anybody experienced this? Can anybody explain the sudden mood change?
Anonymous2008-07-15T13:02:17Z
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Your body is just adjusting to all the added hormones in your body. Not only that, but since you have tried to conceive for so long, I'm sure the emotional stress of finally being pregnant after trying so long is catching up to you. The first trimester is very different from the second trimester, different things are developing and you baby may need different things from your body, so it's natural that you would feel differently as you enter this new stage.
The best thing you can do for your baby is to stop stressing. Stress, anger, any extreme feelings can and will effect your baby's health. Extreme stress alone can cause a miscarriage, so I recommend you find things to calm you down or help you keep your mood from going too high or low. Be it watching a funny movie, listening to relaxing music, asking your husband for a massage, sewing, whatever you like.
If quitting your job is an option, take it! You don't need the extra stress from work and coworkers during pregnancy. If you can, take the time to nest and lay back before the stress of taking care of the baby once it's born. Take the time to be with your husband, as it will not be so easy after the baby is born as well.
Also, it's very important that after the baby is born, that you have some mental counseling. Since your emotions are so extreme right now, it's possible that after your baby is born you might experience post-partum depression. It strikes mothers who have even been more than happy througout their pregnancy, and it's crucial that you get evaluated for it immediately.
Mood swings are very common in pregnancy. There a number of reasons that women have them. Aside from hormones raging through the body, there are also emotions involved. It is certainly normal to go from one extreme to another, however if it is affecting your life the way you are describing it, you should talk to your OB. There are some conditions during pregnancy that can cause you to do things you wouldn't normally dream of doing. It is not normal for you to feel as though you can't handle things all of the sudden and you should be safe and talk to your doctor about this.
The second tri was the worst for me too, mood wise. I am so embarrassed now thinking back on the things that set me off and the crying I did in front of people at work. When you are in a rage, try and remember that it really is the hormones and maybe the thing you are mad about isnt as bad as you think. Although, if your hubby suggests this, you will want to kill him:).
Well welcome to pregnancy, you can have hormones changes before you even know your pregnant. I am almost 17 weeks and I still have mood swings now and then, I think they were worse for me in the 1st trimester, but you need to try and control your anger, b/c too much stress can harm your baby, just try to relax, try maybe some yoga or something, or when you get mad go for a walk. You'll be fine...oh yeah congratulations on your pregnancy =)
Sounds like a flu bug to me. If she's having a really hard time breathing, make sure she sees someone to make sure it's just a bug and not heart related. Some of the symptoms you are naming can be related to heart problems. You ask if it's anxiety, what does she have to be anxious about? Does she normally have anxiety problems?