Are you feeling a little bit moody this pregnancy? Maybe you don’t want to admit that you go from laughing one moment to crying another. Or perhaps you are a bit more irritable than you’d like. If this is you, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone! Many women feel moody while pregnant, and there are so many explanations for it!
Your hormones are changing to allow your body to grow another human! Pregnancy also brings along fatigue because you are growing a baby. And it can be stressful thinking about the future and what you need to buy. Or, maybe you are feeling so down from all the aches, pains, and sickness you’ve been feeling.
It is understandable why you might be feeling moody. But let’s be honest, moodiness is not fun to be around, especially for those who are around you a lot. So here are some fundamental but essential tips on how to improve your mood during pregnancy.
Exercise
We all know from the movie Legally Blonde that exercise releases endorphins, which is a chemical that interacts with the receptors in your brain to reduce your perception of pain. It also triggers a positive feeling in the body (the phrase “runner’s high” is used for a reason). This means that if you are feeling moody, those endorphins can help you to feel better naturally. I’m not going to list all the other benefits exercise has during pregnancy, but this one is an excellent idea to improve your mood. There are so many different types of exercises out there, just be sure to choose one that is safe for both you and the baby.
Eat a snack!
We can all get cranky when we are hungry (think of the Snickers Candy Bar commercials), and this certainly increases during pregnancy. It is suggested that pregnant women eat six small meals throughout the day. Personally, I advise eating a healthy snack whenever you feel hungry. This is because your body is working so hard to give your growing baby what it needs as well as continuing to sustain your own body.
One pregnancy memory I will never forget is the time I couldn’t eat my dinner fast enough while my eyes were closing! I was so tired I could hardly stay awake, but so hungry that I ate three bowls of spaghetti, and I was still a little hungry. Now I didn’t always eat like that, but it shows how hungry and tired we can get in pregnancy. PS. A day or so afterwards my baby girl had a huge growth spurt so it makes sense why I was so hungry. Snacks are our friends.
Get some fresh air
Everyone needs more of this. Go outside, smell the roses, feel the sun, and get away from anything stressing you out. A short walk or just time spent outside can help with the irritability. You could even take a break from social media and electronics for a while!
Take a nap
If I haven’t said it enough thus far, I’ll say it again…your body is currently working so hard to grow another human! You are probably tired, which can cause moodiness. Find a comfy spot and just close your eyes. If you think that you have too much on your plate to take a nap, it helps to remind yourself that you are more likely to be productive when you do not feel so tired. Seriously, naps are essential. I recommend buying a pregnancy pillow to help sleep better once your baby bump is big. Some people think they are overrated, but I loved how comfortable I felt. It also worked as a shield against my husband who tends to move around in his sleep.
Laugh
Grab your friends or family and have a good time! Repeat as needed! You deserve it, and it might just be exactly what your mind needs to relieve the stress.
Pamper yourself
If you are struggling with low self-esteem, or just need a little extra pampering, do it! Just make sure it is an activity that is safe for the baby. Perhaps get a prenatal massage to help you relax. Or have your spouse massage your tummy or head for free!
Positive Thoughts
This tip is dear to my heart for everyone alive, not just those going through pregnancy. We need to think more positively. If we focus on the bad things in life and complain more often than not, we will naturally feel more upset and crabby. On the contrary, if you try to find the positive side to issues in life, you are more likely to feel happy. Now I know this is easier for some than it is for others, but I genuinely believe that our mind is powerful and will respond to whatever we are feeding it. So think happy thoughts!
Is everything ok?
If you are feeling stressed and upset all the time, it can be helpful to sit down and reflect on what is going on in your life. Could there be a different factor that might be contributing to your moodiness? Have there been conflicts with people lately? Is something going on at work? If there is something else that needs to be addressed, try to work it out before it tears you down.
If your moodiness doesn’t seem to decrease with any of these tips, and you feel as though it is becoming more frequent and more intense, it might be a good idea to talk to a doctor about depression or an anxiety disorder. There is no shame in meeting with someone to discuss your emotional health and studies have shown that untreated emotional health issues can affect your baby’s health, increase your risk of preterm labor, and increase your chance of postpartum depression. It can also cause some problems later on for both you and your family.
To conclude, being moody during pregnancy is hard for you, the baby, and everyone around you. I hope that these tips can help you as you start trying to improve your outlook during this stage of pregnancy.
