Mood Swings: What You Need to Know

Hormone production increases to prepare your body for a successful pregnancy. But, as everyone knows, the side effects can involve a roller coaster ride of emotions, from irritability to giddiness, emotional fragility, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. Mood swings in pregnancy are pretty much to be expected. Another related common symptom is mental fog, where a woman’s mind gets forgetful or a little bit fuzzy. If you had any of these symptoms as a surrogate, you might have chalked it up to general stress. But there is something much more powerful going on. Pregnancy brings on a cascade of physical changes – it’s not surprising considering that you’re growing a whole human life!

Due to ethical concerns, it is difficult to study much of what is happening with pregnant women, but animal research indicates that pregnancy rewires the nervous system and may even alter sensory perception. Studies in pregnant rats have found that new olfactory (smell related) neurons form inside the brain, indicating that more neurological and physiological changes in human beings may be probable. Why do these changes occur? On a biological level, the body is increasing the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Women can be more sensitive to increases in progesterone, which tend to cause moodiness.

Not only do hormonal changes affect mood, they also impact important activities like exercise. Progesterone loosens ligaments and tendons, increasing flexibility and possibly impacting your routine. This hormone also expands the uterus from a small pear-shaped organ to a size that can accommodate a baby. Estrogen levels, on the other hand reach their height in the third trimester. This is the hormone associated with nausea which also plays a major role in the milk duct development that enlarges the breast.
So, in the extremely likely event that you become moody during pregnancy, there a few things you can do to help the situation. First of all, take time for yourself. Your body is changing and doing some additional work creating an entire new human life, so you may need more “me” time. Second, make sure you attend to your support network if you feel moody, irritable, or blue – talking about what you’re going through can help a lot. Third, make sure your exercise is appropriate and paced with your body’s changing needs in mind. In short, you need to be considerate of yourself.

Of course, if you’re having any issues that are more than just minor moodiness, you should contact your doctor right away and it’s possible you may need some additional support. That’s where a good surrogacy agency comes into play. Here at Global Surrogacy Services, we’re always here to help.