Monthly Mental Health: Pregnancy and Emotions

As I’m sure everyone knows by now, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced on Monday that they are expecting their second child. What exciting news for them, and for us! Of course, I send my most heartfelt congratulations to them both.

After hearing the news, I read many different blog entries and newspaper articles about the toll that pregnancy takes on the body – especially, in Kate’s case, as she is again suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum. I did not see much mention the mental changes that can take place during pregnancy and, as this is equally as important, I thought I’d spend some time talking about the different effects pregnancy can have on the mind and emotions.

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First and foremost, many pregnancies bring feelings of great joy and excitement. It is thrilling to know that you have a new person growing inside of you and to ponder the incredible changes that will happen in your life. It is such fun to pick out baby furniture and baby toys, and to choose tiny baby clothes that your little one will soon wear. It is amazing to feel your heart grow with love for the little being (or beings!) you will soon hold in your arms.

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For some, however, pregnancy can also bring with it a host of more unpleasant emotions. Pregnancy is notoriously a time for mood swings: you can feel intense happiness at one moment and then be a sobbing wreck within a blink of an eye. Not only can your mood change very suddenly, but you may also find that your emotions are more intense. Small things that normally wouldn’t bother you now make you very angry or things that you normally enjoyed now make you feel ecstatic! Learning how to cope with these sudden changes in emotion and/or emotional intensity is challenging. Be kind and patient to yourself during this time!

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Those mood swings and intense emotions can take a toll on you. Add this to completely normal feelings of fatigue while pregnant (and, in Kate’s instance, chasing after a very energetic toddler), along with other physical ailments common with pregnancy (morning sickness, trouble sleeping, trouble eating, bloating, etc) and that can equal complete exhaustion. It’s hard to feel good when you are so tired, but know that this too shall pass. Lots of rest can help with extreme fatigue, and keep your sights focused on the second trimester when hopefully you’ll get an amazing burst of energy!

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Exhaustion, emotional instability, and difficulty eating due to morning sickness can all put a pregnant woman at risk for some more problematic mental health issues during pregnancy. Prenatal (or antenatal) depression is a type of depression that affects women while pregnant. Symptoms include feelings of failure, emotional numbness, persistent sadness, loss of interest or motivation, and extreme irritability. It is believed that between 7-20% of pregnant women will have an episode of prenatal depression during their pregnancy, and such prenatal stress can lead to problems with development of the baby. If you experience any of these symptoms, please tell your doctor. Doctors are able to treat prenatal depression, and can help you find ways to elevate your mood and bring back your joy.

Lastly, pregnancy can be a stressful time. Your body is going through enormous change, and your life will soon go through intense changes as well. It is completely normal to experience some worry during a pregnancy. However, too much worry about these changes and worry about your new growing baby can be reflective of a prenatal anxiety disorder. Symptoms of such heightened anxiety include feeling overwhelmed/anxious/worried for most of the day everyday, feelings of panic or having panic attacks, and obsessive (repetitive) thoughts of stress or worry. Similar to prenatal depression, prenatal anxiety can have negative effects on the baby, so again please tell your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

Having a good support system, taking care of yourself, and getting the rest you need all help to ensure a positive, joyous, and healthy pregnancy.

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Congratulations again to William and Kate!