The Ups and Downs of Pregnancy
Chances are, that emotional roller coaster is a normal part of your nine-month adventure.
Find Out If You Are At Risk
* Baby blues that don’t go away after two weeks or strong feelings of depression and anger that begin to surface one to two months after childbirth.
* Feelings of sadness, doubt, guilt, helplessness or hopelessness that seem to increase with each week and begin to disrupt your normal functioning. You may not be able to care for yourself or your baby. You may have trouble handling your usual responsibilities at home or on the job.
* Not being able to sleep even when tired, or sleeping most of the time, even when the baby is awake.
* Loss of interest in things that used to bring pleasure.
For more information, visit The Women's Health Center
One day you weep at a greeting card commercial and get lovey-dovey with your hubby. The next, you feel exhausted and lash out at him for every little thing.
Don’t panic. Mood swings affect one in seven women during pregnancy, and it’s not surprising given your new life responsibility and hormone fluctuations.
“In the first trimester, many women worry about miscarriage, about having a healthy baby or even about bringing a child into the world given our current international situation,” says Kristin Friel, M.D., Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network obstetrician/gynecologist.
Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it gets better. “The second trimester is the honeymoon period,” Friel says. “Your hormones relax, you get used to being pregnant and have more energy.” Then, when you think it can’t get any better, your mood plummets again. “At the end of pregnancy you sleep poorly, are often up going to the bathroom and start to feel anxious as delivery approaches,” Friel says.
Care for yourself with massage, yoga or exercise. Talk to your mate about your feelings, cry if you want to, and don’t be too hard on yourself or your body. Share experiences with other women. If you have the energy, join a neighborhood or workplace pregnancy club. And don’t obsess about your baby’s health. “Most babies are healthy, and there are many tests to reassure you,” Friel says. “Live your life and enjoy your pregnancy.”
When should you be concerned? “If you’re down all day, every day for more than two weeks,” says Pushpi Chaudhary, M.D., Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network psychiatrist. “You could be among the 10 percent of women who suffer from depression during pregnancy.”
Help comes in many forms—talk therapy with a counselor, support groups and even medication. “Anti-depressants may be prescribed during pregnancy when necessary,” Chaudhary says. “You have to be well enough to care for yourself and your baby, so discuss the options with your doctor.”
This page last updated 12/15/08 01:32 PM
