Pregnancy, delivery, and post-delivery are all times of great physical, hormonal, and emotional changes for a birth mother. The links on this site should help you understand some of the emotional changes so that hopefully you can deal with them more effectively.

Moods and Emotions of Pregnancy

Emotional ups and downs and moodiness during pregnancy are common to most pregnant women. It is believed that these mood changes are caused by hormonal changes and the changes that must be made in the life of the pregnant woman. These emotions and feelings are often intense, varied, and unpredictable

Although each pregnancy is unique the following description provides a basic picture of common emotional changes of pregnancy.

During the first stage of pregnancy (the first 3 months) the woman's emotions are often unstable and feelings of depression are not uncommon, often for no apparent reason. The pregnant woman experiences many mood swings, which are often extreme and seem to come out of nowhere. The woman may start to cry, or become angry, fearful, or hurt all with little cause or no apparent reason at all.

The second stage of pregnancy (2nd trimester) is typically a little more calm than the 1st trimester. By this time the woman has begun to deal more effectively with her pregnancy and the emotions involved. Often the woman will have more energy than she has had for a few months and her overall outlook tends to be more stable, positive, and predictable.

The final stage (months 7-9), and especially the last month or two, the pregnant woman's anxieties and fears may increase along with her physical discomfort. She may experience fatigue, restlessness, and sleeplessness. Many women at this time feel very vulnerable to rejection, loss or insult, and they may feel "fat" and unattractive. It is very common for the woman to be preoccupied with concerns and fears about labor and delivery, the pain and uncertainty involved, and concerns about the financial, medical and emotional future for her child.

After the child has been born many women go through a period called the "baby blues" or through period of true depression. Depression that occurs during pregnancy is called perinatal depression while depression after pregnancy is called postpartum depression. Depression is one of the most common complications during and after pregnancy. Often, the depression is not recognized or treated, because some normal pregnancy changes cause similar symptoms and are happening at the same time.

For information on depression during and after pregnancy, both of which are very common, and effective ways to treat depression, please visit Depression During and After Pregnancy.

Help With Your Emotions

Pregnancy support groups and parenting support groups can help with some of the emotional issues of pregnancy, birthing, raising your child, and child adoption. Each site offers something a little different. For additional information about the emotions of your pregnancy, please visit the website Pregnancy And Children. Other informational websites on pregnancy and emotions include:

The ivillage website has a section on the moods and emotions of pregnancy that includes physical and emotional changes during pregnancy and physical and emotional changes after the baby's birth.

Emotions during all three trimesters of pregnancy are discussed in the University of Iowa's maternity unit website.

Dr.Spock's website and CareMark.com are two other websites you may find helpful.

Finally, you may also want to visit Psychologist Anywhere Anytime, a website created by Dr. Vince Berger, a psychologist and child adoption professional, or you can contact Dr. Berger by phone or by email.