You think you've always been a rather calm person. You’ve always stayed cool during heated conversations, you’re practised at counting to ten when your children are being difficult, and you’ll happily redo a piece of work until it’s perfect.

However, now that you’re pregnant, you’ve found yourself really struggling with mood swings, which seem to be progressively getting worse and worse. Nowadays, you lose patience at the drop of a hat, you feel excited one moment and miserable the next. And your partner can barely ask a question without you flying off the handle!

Mood swings are a very common symptom of pregnancy. And as debilitating as they can be, there are things you can do to reduce your anger, moodiness, irritability, and look after yourself in general during your pregnancy.

But before we dive into any constructive ways you can manage your mood swings, let’s talk about why you feel so moody during your pregnancy. Understanding what is going on in your body during this time can be very helpful, and allow you to find more peace with your symptoms.

Why do I feel so moody when pregnant?

One of the primary reasons for your mood swings during pregnancy will be the change in your hormone levels. After conception, the amount of oestrogen and progesterone in your blood increases to prepare your body for pregnancy. As vital as this is for the growth of your baby, it also means that your mood is affected at the same time.

It is also important to note that your hormones during pregnancy can also affect your feelings about sex. For example, there might be days when you feel turned on by the thought of sex, and other days when it’s the furthest thing from your mind.

Also, keep in mind that although hormones have a huge role to play in your mood during this time, there are other contributing factors. Remember that you are going through a huge change in your life, so your moods will naturally be more changeable. For example, some days you may feel excited about the arrival of your baby, and other days you might feel anxious.

If you’re feeling anxious on some days, here are some common worries you might relate to during this time:

Worrying about whether your lifestyle is affecting your developing baby.

Worrying about whether your baby will be born healthy.

Worrying about how you’re going to manage financially.

Worrying about how your career may be affected by becoming a parent.

Worrying about how you’ll cope with labour and birth.

Worrying about how a baby will affect your relationship.

Why am I experiencing mood swings during pregnancy?

Hormones influence your moods to varying degrees throughout pregnancy.