Why All These Mixed Emotions?
Pregnancy is a time filled with emotions – from happiness and excitement to uncertainty and worry. It's normal to experience a wide range of feelings during pregnancy, as both your body and mind are undergoing big changes.
In our articles, you’ll find tips on how you can strengthen yourself emotionally and physically, and how you can take advantage of this special time to care for yourself!
Why Do These Feelings Come Up and What Do They Mean?
Shouldn’t I be thrilled?
Many women find themselves feeling much more sensitive and reactive during pregnancy than before. It can seem like you experience the world much more closely and intensely, instead of from a distance.
It’s perfectly okay if you’re not always filled with happiness and excitement. Your body is going through a lot of changes right now. And your mind also needs time to adjust to this new reality: you’re going to be a mom!
That’s a huge change and a new role, and it can easily create some emotional turbulence.
It’s also normal if you don’t immediately feel excited. That doesn’t mean your pregnancy or your baby aren’t important to you, or that becoming a mom isn’t right for you. For many women, that gentle feeling of joy only develops gradually during pregnancy. And maybe for you, love shows up in other ways than just intense happiness – maybe you show it by putting a lot of strength and effort into your pregnancy.
The Physical Cause… Hormones
Hormonal fluctuations are especially strong in the first trimester (up to about week 12), when your body is producing more pregnancy hormones like hCG, progesterone, and estrogen. These rapid changes can cause mood swings, often starting as early as week 6.
In the second trimester (up to about week 26), hormone levels often stabilize, leading to greater emotional balance.
In the third trimester (from about week 27 onward), mood swings may increase again, as hormones like oxytocin circulate and you may find yourself both looking forward to the birth and worrying about it.
Will it always be like this?
Every pregnancy is experienced in a completely individual way. The good news is that feelings come and go, and your hormones will balance out again. So, it won’t always be like this!
Here you can read more:
- Stages of pregnancy
- Pregnancy week calculator
- Pregnant and not feeling happy or maternal yet
- Help for possible pregnancy depression
How Am I Supposed to Handle All of This?
Maybe you also have some worried thoughts and feelings. Will I be a good mom? Will I be able to give my baby everything they need?
It’s normal and healthy to feel some respect for the challenge of becoming a mother. It shows that you want to do your best and wish the best for your child – and that you want to be well prepared...
You can read more here:
- What are my strengths as a mom? (Take the personality test)
- Being a mom
- Being a dad
- Relationship tips for pregnancy and after birth
It’s not uncommon to feel worries or anxieties, especially if the pregnancy was unplanned – or if you already have children, daily life is demanding, your relationship is going through a tough time, or your life circumstances change unexpectedly.
You can read more here:
What Else You Can Do – Quick Tips Against Mood Swings
Humor
The best thing for sadness and overthinking is laughter! You don’t always have to take everything so seriously or pick everything apart.
You and your partner arguing about the toothpaste cap being left off? Well, you’re a typical couple! Laugh about it!
Laughing brings some lightness and can even help you not to lose hope in tough situations. When was the last time you laughed out loud and really meant it? What helps you feel relaxed and at ease? Watching a good movie, enjoying small daily moments, or being around people who are cheerful and optimistic?
Thought-stopping
Of course, you shouldn’t just run away from problems, but if you notice that you’re overthinking and it’s not helping, it can be good to deliberately set a mental “stop” sign. Especially when many worries try to “take over” your mind.
Instead, do something positive on purpose. What do you enjoy? Calling a friend? Listening to your favorite song on repeat? Making a shopping list for an upcoming birthday or vacation?
Self-care
Right now, you deserve extra care – not just from others, but from yourself! Remind yourself that you and your body are doing something amazing! It’s normal if you’re not always happy, if you’re tired, or if some things change – your preferences, your attitude, your time management… Maybe some people are especially good for you right now, and there are others you’d like to take a break from. Maybe you need more downtime, or in some areas where you’ve always been independent, you now need a bit of help.
Your body is already giving your child a home, a safe and secure place during pregnancy – in the same way, you can create a home and an environment that feels good for yourself.
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