Pregnancy can be an emotional roller coaster, especially in the first trimester and especially if it’s your first pregnancy. The hormone cocktail of pregnancy can have you chipper one minute and then tired, anxious, headachy and irritable the next. And pregnancy itself is stressful: suddenly you have a whole new batch of issues you didn’t before, from family drama to finding a doctor and health worries and stressing about your job and finances. Nausea can make your healthy glow can turn into a pale green in a minute flat and you might find yourself snapping at the husband you were madly in love with two minutes ago. It can be hard to tell if it’s pregnancy that’s making you weepy or if it’s everything else.
Hydrate. Sip water all day long, even if you don’t feel very thirsty. Your body is working hard to make fluids like colostrum, extra blood and mucous and amniotic fluid. This means you can become dehydrated fast and that can trigger nausea, headaches and irritability. If you get tired of plain water try decaf tea or adding a lemon or slice of cucumber to pep it up.
Snack. Low blood sugar can also trigger irritability and dizziness. Keep a snack bar, nuts or crackers in your purse and car and try not to go more than three hours without at least a small nosh.
Move. Prenatal yoga, swimming or just a walk around the block can help clear your head. Just 20 minutes of light to moderate exercise a day can help your moods.
Take a breather. Before you fire off an insult or a scathing email, take some deep breaths, relax and think it over. Don’t say or mail something you might regret just because pregnancy is making you feel sick and angry.
Forgive yourself. It’s okay if you’re too tired to do the dishes, if you burst into tears for seemingly no apparent reason, if you can’t make it out to dinner with a friend. This is totally normal and people will (or should!) understand.
and finally, a bonus number six:
Ask for and accept help. If you feel sad and bad most of the time, feel an urge to harm yourself or others or need help managing mood swings, talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner.
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