Journal Entry

Ready for a ride? Prepare for the emotional roller coasters of pregnancy

Feeling emotional during your pregnancy? Don’t worry! It’s normal!

Although my husband and I had been trying to conceive for quite some time, my first experience with a positive pregnancy test led me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I expected to feel more stable after the news of my pregnancy had sunk in. Instead, my pregnancy hormones started raging.

I was unprepared for the wide range of emotions that I would feel during pregnancy. One moment I’d be laughing hysterically at my husband’s joke. The next moment I’d be screaming about unfinished chores. Sitcoms could turn me into a sobbing mess. A TV commercial with a father and son playing ball would have me weeping like a baby.

So what can women do during pregnancy to control their out-of-control emotions? Here are a few guidelines that may help as you deal with your own emotional roller coaster.

Remember that it’s normal. Your body is being flooded with an overload of pregnancy hormones. It’s normal to experience some ups and downs during this time.

Get some light exercise. As long as it’s approved by your physician, try to lightly exercise during your pregnancy. Exercising releases feel-good endorphins that can help regulate your mood.

Eat healthy meals on a regular basis. Hunger can turn even the most stable of us into raging lunatics—especially when that hunger is fueled by pregnancy hormones! Do your best to eat meals on a regular basis so you don’t get cranky because of hunger.

Try some deep breathing. Now is a great time to practice your birthing breathing! Taking deep breaths can help calm any rising emotions, especially if you feel angry or enraged. Rhythmic breaths will have a soothing effect on you.

Let it out. There will be times when you just need to experience your emotions. If a TV commercial is bringing on the waterworks, go ahead and sob. Sometimes you just need to let it all out.

Pregnancy hormones can create emotions we never knew existed. If you’ve been experiencing an emotional roller coaster during your pregnancy, you’re not alone. But some simple coping techniques—like deep breathing and regular exercise—can help prepare you to handle these extreme emotional episodes.

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