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EMOTIONS & MOOD SWINGS
You may experience more emotional ups and downs than usual during pregnancy. This is quite normal. This emotional roller coaster ride is due to hormonal influences. Urge those close to you to understand and to be supportive. Use exercise, relaxation, meditation, diet, and herbal therapies to improve your energy and moods, but don't neglect emotional and spiritual work.
THE PREGNANCY ROLLERCOASTER RIDE
Sometimes we feel exhilarated, and the next second we feel deeply depressed. We cry while watching bank commercials on TV and then we want to rip our partner's faces off if they say or do anything stupid. Other people are influenced as well since our mood can dampen their spirits as well and it can be nerve-wracking for them to deal with a pregnant woman on an emotional rollercoaster ride. To deal with the outbursts of anger, sadness, and almost hyperactive activity, it takes considerable effort by all the people involved.
Depression is one of the worst parts of these mood swings. Being at home alone makes this depression even more pronounced. For some reason women become very lonely and want to do something with people but just lack the energy required actually going out and doing something. Sometimes this can be caused partly because of the physical stress the pregnancy puts on the body. Watching your nutrition and possibly adding extra dietary supplements of certain vitamins and minerals can help alleviate these symptoms. Take more initiative in doing something you enjoy doing as soon as you feel depression is starting to overtake you. Having a good friend over to talk to will help you too. Some women give up hobbies while they are pregnant because they think they will hurt the baby. Before you give up any hobbies though, make sure you talk with your midwife or health care provider first - your fears might be totally without basis! Talk to your partner and let him know how you are feeling. Hopefully, he will help you carry part of the load too. Often a partner will spoil their expectant mom-to-be during the pregnancy and can help her when she needs it. However, there are those partners that don't support their pregnant wives. If you are the partner to a pregnant woman, PLEASE don't tell your wife that she looks fat. The weight gain is a necessary and natural process in the pregnancy. Your wife needs to hear that she is appreciated and still beautiful to you. Her changing body makes her feel very insecure and she needs to be assured by the person who loves her.
If your reaction is more anger and short temper then depression during your pregnancy, it could be because you feel the loss of energy and ability to do simple things such as running. Remember not to focus only on the losses you experience. You should be proud of the little baby growing inside your body. You are his/her home, his/her shelter, and his/her life. Make sure you remember that when you start to feel like you want to lash out at the world. Start a new hobby, treat yourself to manicures, and try new kinds of foods. Pamper yourself alittle. Just because you can't do some things doesn't mean your life has to stop! For instance, if you lack energy but you enjoy throwing parties and socializing, You could also host small potluck dinner or an afternoon tea party for a few special friends instead of a gala with a large feast for many people. Sometimes it can also be helpful to just take a nap, restore your energy and that will give you a whole new outlook on things. Being pregnant can be tiring and taking a needed nap will feel like a luxury. It really isn't that bad!
Lastly, if you think in one of your mood swings you hurt some people around you, don't just blame it on the pregnancy and keep feeling bad about it. Just talk to the person and let them know your feelings. You would be surprised how often they have had the same experiences during their pregnancies. You will feel strengthened knowing that they forgive you and are happy for you and your growing family. Therefore, focus on the positive, try new things, and let your partner spoil you. After all, you deserve it! Don't worry about your changing body, it will get back to normal soon and you'll have a beautiful, new baby who will look at you with love and complete trust as soon as it sees you for the first time, no matter what you look like.
SOME RECOMMENDED SUGGESTIONS
Some suggestions for feeling energetic and at peace:
- Get plenty of sleep. Insomnia can be a problem with some pregnant women. Take a nap during the day if you are feeling tired. Take a break during the day to relax.
- Spend time with your partner and friends. Go for a walk or to the movies for a night out. Go get a facial or a massage to help with de-stressing.
- Don't be hard on yourself. Take each day a day at a time. Your pregnancy is relatively short-lived. Try to enjoy it. It will be over soon.
- Regular moderate exercise combined with affirmations and creative visualizations will tone the body and the mind. Ten minutes of exercise done regularly does more to prevent fatigue and depression than an occasional intensive workout.
- Deep relaxation is a powerful tool for easing emotional and physical stress. It can be done as a break in the day, just before going to sleep or just after waking up.
- Meditation refreshes and centers the mind. Listen to classical music or nature-sounds on a CD or tape. Use a guided meditation tape or technique to center your mind and emotions. Hypnobirthing tapes and affirmations are wonderful to use. Consider taking Tai Chi or Yoga classes designed for pregnancy.
- Affirmations and visualizations are important emotional and psychological tools. They are easy to do. There are many self help books and guides available to choose from.
- Give yourself time to read a book, paint a picture, walk in the woods or any other creative and relaxing endeavor you may enjoy. Give yourself some quiet time. This helps to prevent fatigue and depression.
- Don't feel guilty about not having the housework done or caught up. Believe me, it will always wait for you to do it. Enlist the help of other family members or friends to help you out. If you have the financial resources, occasionally hire someone to come in and do the work for you.
- If mood changes are severe or interfering with your life, consider counseling. Make an effort to explore and understand underlying emotions can help you to cope with your feelings. Keep in mind, mood changes are usually temporary during pregnancy and are normal.
- Eat well. Take care of your nutritional needs. Mood changes are thought to be caused by hormonal changes and deficiencies of the B vitamins as well as the stress of physical discomforts and psychological issues that arise as a result of bodily changes and the awareness of impending motherhood.
MoonDragon's Nutrition Information Index - Helpful information for pregnancy.
Increase your intake of foods rich in vitamin B's and iron, such as alfalfa, blackstrap molasses, brown rice, eggs, enriched whole-grain cereals, fish, green leafy vegetables, kidney beans, oats, poultry, soy products, and wheat germ. Inadequate iron makes you feel tired, irritable and unhappy. Focus on high protein snacks such as nuts, yogurt, popcorn with nutritional yeast, sardines and cheese.
Raspberry leaf infusion calms. Add half as much Peppermint or Spearmint leaves for a lift of spirits and a renewed sense of energy. These herbs are good for pregnancy as well, adding needed nutrients to your diet.
MOONDRAGON'S PREGNANCY TEA
2 Parts Red Raspberry Leaves
1 Part Nettle Leaves
1 Part Alfalfa Leaves
1 Part Peppermint Leaves
Mix all herbs thoroughly and brew into a strong tea. Drink a few cups to a quart of tea daily. The red raspberry leaves help to balance out hormonal fluctuations and is a good all-around woman's uterine toner. Great for mood swings. The nettle and alfalfa leaves are very high in vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy pregnancy. The peppermint leaves are great for the digestive system and can help digestive upsets that are common during pregnancy. The peppermint also adds a nice minty flavor to the otherwise "green' flavor of the other herbs. You can drink it unsweetened or with a little honey added to it. It can be made into a "sun tea" and refrigerated for a pleasant tasting ice tea as well as taken hot, as a regular brewed tea. Great for summer or winter.
Burdock, Blessed Thistle, and Sarsaparilla are considered bitter tonics. Occasional use helps keep your emotions on an even keel and makes a nice change from your daily Nettle or Raspberry leaf teas.
Motherwort tincture calms without causing drowsiness. It helps to relieve stress when you are feeling overwhelmed. Try 5 drops in a small glass of water to restore emotional balance. Allow 15 minutes for the full effect to occur. Repeat, if necessary, as frequently as every two hours during times of particular upset or stress. Motherwort tincture works best when combined with a short break in the day's activities to be able to stretch, breathe, and relax, centering one's body and mind. Caution should be taken with Motherwort as it can be psychologically habit forming. Limit it's use to only those times when you absolutely need to calm down.
Skullcap tincture provides deep, refreshing sleep. Take up to 30 drops of commercial tincture (from dried plants) or 5-15 drops of fresh plant tincture half an hour before going to bed. An infusion of the dried plant nourishes and strengthens the nerves. Drink two cups daily for several months if your nerves feel frayed and you are easily upset.
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NOTIFY YOUR MIDWIFE OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF...
You or a family member has questions about pregnancy, emotional issues and mood swings.
If your mood swings last more than two weeks and do not seem to get better, you may want to ask your health care provider or midwife for a referral to a counselor. More than 11 million American women are affected by depression each year. Depression is most prevalent in women during childbearing years but can occur at any age.
Some symptoms of depression include:
- Recurrent anxiety and increased irritability.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Change in eating habits.
- Inability to concentrate on anything for very long.
- Short-term memory loss.
If your mood swings become more frequent and intense, it is crucial that you speak with your health care provider or midwife about options in dealing with severe mood swings, anxiety or depression.
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