Pregnancy hormones can affect your mood

Do you find yourself switching between feeling angry, sad, depressed and tearful? Pregnancy hormones can affect both your emotions and your body. They cause nausea, but they also prepare your body for what is to come.

Mood swings are common

During pregnancy, your body is affected by a wide range of hormones in ways that can feel challenging. Hormone levels are especially influential during the first part of pregnancy and may cause mood swings. The body is also affected and changes throughout pregnancy. You may have trouble sleeping, experience nausea, stomach or back pain, constipation, or other discomforts that can affect your mood. Being pregnant and preparing to become a parent is a mentally overwhelming process, so it can be helpful to slow down and avoid stress.

Upset or worried about your nausea?

Perhaps you feel that you’re supposed to be overwhelmingly happy during pregnancy, but instead you feel sick every day and find yourself feeling worried. These feelings should be taken seriously, because you shouldn’t have to feel that way. If you notice that your nausea is making you feel sad, you should contact your midwife or healthcare provider and ask to talk to them. They can offer helpful advice, guidance on food and rest, and also provide recommendations about over‑the‑counter medications and more.