Out of control emotions! Help

Hi All

I am very new to belly belly. 1st time mum, and I am experiencing what i would describe as severe emotional ups and downs and don't know what to do to help control this! One minute I'm excited and happy, the next i'm bawling my eyes out (for no reason) or going completely mental (also for no good reason).

I've had a history of depression in the past but am unsure if such a happy time in one's life should trigger a bout of depression? my partner is very supportive as is my family and friends, but i feel 'alone'??

I've tried to cheer myself up doing happy things like going to the shops and looking at all the cute tiny singlets etc, but end up getting tired/ demotivated and going home.

Has anyone else experienced this? What do you suggest doing to bring myself back up to a happier state as i've read babies can be affected by their mothers emotions during pregnancy.

Thanks heaps. x

Oh :hug: I am a new mum to be and I have been having emaotional highs and lows too I just think it is to do with all the changes good luck :goodluck:

Hi & welcome to belly belly!

Congrats on your pregnancy! :)

Unfortunately from my experiences the emotional roller-coaster you are experiencing is a part of pregnancy. How I managed to stay sane was to remind myself that its all normal during pregnancy.

I dont know if it affects bubs unless it causes you a huge amount of stress, then I think that possibly could be a risk to bubs??? (sorry I have no idea!)

I think its great that you're here asking for help, I think thats a really good sign that its just the normal pregnancy hormones causing the ups & downs.

Have you got a girlfriend you could talk to when things feel like they may be getting, I dont know how to word it but the only thing that comes to my mind is "out of your control"? Having a girlfriend you can call on just to cry to & let it all out should help.

If you've experienced depression in the past then maybe mention this to your GP, OB, or midwife. I know in my hospital if theres any type of history of depression they monitor you through out the pregnancy, calling you to see how things are etc. They also allow you to come in for "bed rest" when things get ontop of you, just for a break & to clear your head. I dont know what your hospital offers but please bring it up as there may well be alot of help there for you, even if its as a precaution.

I know you will have lots of wonderful ladies come in & offer you advice on this topic.....

I hope I was of some help to you & good luck.

Yep me too...DH came home last night to me sobbing me heart out...over Colin the whale...and then I was ripping his head off for being late...oops...what were those vows again...'for better or worse'...hang in there xxx

Thank you so much ladies you're all so nice - and quick to respond.

I do have a good gf who has a 7 1/2 mth old so she remembers what it was like and she's been supportive. In fact every one has - which is great, i just want it to stop? but i guess that's part and parcel with pregnancy.

Only 5 weeks pregnant so i have got a long way to go.

Yes poor partner copped an earful last night when he was late home also - poor men!

another query - are we allowed to have a bath during pregnancy - that used to relax me no end, but i haven't done so since i found out as i know spas aren't good for you and didn't know if baths were the same?

If it makes you feel any better, I was AWFUL when I was 5 weeks. I knew I was being a horrible horrible person to DH but I just couldnt' stop. Really I am glad it passed, and it did. I still have ups and downs, but the "mean" me seemed to disappear prob around the 7 week mark.
It's hard though because Im always emotional so I can't say it's any worse, but I know Dh think's it's pretty bad!!
but hang in there, speak to someone incase it's more than just hormones, but know that the hormones are powerful things and if there's nothing wrong, you are sounding normal (to me anyway)!!! xoxo

Hi there!

I would reckon that what you are feeling is pretty normal for the stage of pregnancy! i was like a two-headed monster and was very emotional (crying at the drop of a hat with nothing in particular to cause it). i only found out i was pregnant 6 weeks along so it all made sense once that BFP showed! LOL!

however that said, ante-natal depression does exist and if you are feeling pretty down for longer than you feel comfortable with or are just wanting to feel different, then i would suggest extending your support network to include some professional support. even if that's just a trusted GP or some kind of Ante-natal and PND support group. websites like beyondblue have some great info on what to look out for and what suppport is out there as does a group called PANDA (post and ante-natal depression association...i think that's the name...).

Good luck and congratulations on the pregnancy!

Hi Mustangsachy,

I agree with what the other girls have posted but I just wanted to jump in here to let you know that lately I have been crying over the Olympics. If people or teams win: I cry, if they lose: I cry, if they are disqualified or fall down: I cry. It doesn't seem to matter what event or what country is involved....although I do think I am crying more for the Aussies. ;) It's starting to get ridiculous! Laughing at how ridiculous I'm being has helped. And trying to remember this is apparently quite normal for pregnancy (although not normal for me) Hang in there chicky :)

Kaz I just saw the pole vault guy on the news and cried in the replay. I was actually thinking it's lucky I haven't seen any of the Olympics, I would've been a mess too!!!

Yep, being very emotional in the first trimester is very normal (at least for me!!!). I tried so hard to pick a fight with DH when I was pregnant with our first. DH is so laidback it just washed over him so I ended up screeching and hysterical. Funny now but SOOOOOOOO bad then. Found out I was pregnant 2 days later. Then there were the tears over everything!!!!

Second baby was not quite as bad but OMG, bad enough. I was feral some days and DH had to take DS1 out of the house to let me cool off. I could physically feel it coming on so was able to warn DH.

Thanks guys :hug: ... you've made me feel eternally better - i don't feel so 'alone' now. i had a big chat to BW on weekend (after my bawling and unreasonableness) and he knows what's going on so he's more aware of it now.

I did have a laugh at a couple of you crying about the olympics - almost as bad as me finding my 'favourite' (i didn't even know i had a fave) waterbottle not in the fridge with cold water in it! And i CRIED! I realise my ridiculousness and it's funny afterwards but at the time it's devastating!

A girlfriend suggested a baby journal to document my feelings as an outlet and also a record - so i can show the little munchkin the torture we went thru.

congrats on you all too.

:clap:

Hey mustang,
Emotional rollercoaster is all part of the deal!

Given your history of depression, there is also antenatal depression which is before the bubs arrives as well as postnatal, which i'm sure you already know about.
Just keep a tab on your emotions and seek help if you get worse (i hope not).
But crying one minute, laughing the next, biting someones head off the next minute is all the fun of pregnancy.

Take care. xxooxx