So, you got all dressed up that your pregnant wife asked you for a dinner date and suddenly you find her sitting in the corner grumping about not being in a mood for dinner! You are left helpless as sometimes saying the right thing or advising your pregnant wife could be impossible. You may also be stuck without knowing how to handle a pregnant wife’s mood swings. Remember pregnancy can play havoc with your wife’s mood, hence you may even find normal conversation getting ignited.
Mood swings can be caused by various factors with hormones playing the key role. You can find your wife feeling happy at one moment and the other moment filled with tears. Relax as she is not alone. However, mood swings can be terrible especially if you are at the receiving end. Nonetheless, there may be a little that you can do to take control over how your partner feels.
In this article, we shall see how to handle a pregnant wife’s mood swings and why pregnancy mood swings ruin relationships.
What Causes Mood Swings During Pregnancy?
Mood swings during pregnancy are caused by various facts. However, hormones play a major role. The other factors could include physical discomfort, stress, or anxiety about the upcoming life changes. Though your pregnant wife could be excited about her pregnancy, it could also make her stressed or overwhelmed. There could be a lot of questions that keep arising in her mind which contributes more to their mood swings. Also, there a few simple things that every pregnant woman wants from her husband, failing to which is not fruitful for the couple.
Mood swings start in pregnancy during the first trimester between 6 to 10 weeks. Your wife could experience it again in the third trimester as their body prepares for birth. That is common with women who are pregnant and irritated with everyone.
Having said that, if you want to handle your pregnant wife’s mood swings, here is what you need to know — the causes for the same.
1. Change in hormone levels
A sudden surge in pregnancy hormones is the major culprit for a shift in mood swings. There is a high increase in estrogen and progesterone during the early pregnancy stages which can cause a lot of difficulty to one’s mental health. Estrogen plays an active part in our brain and that is the reason for her mood swings as this hormone is associated with anxiety, irritability, and depression.
Similarly, progesterone can cause fatigue, sluggishness, and even sadness.
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2. Fatigue and sleep deprivation
Fatigue during pregnancy and sleep deprivation during pregnancy could make pregnant women feel tired. This in turn could add to making her mood fluctuate as she could become tired physically and mentally.
3. Stress
Worryingabout the future and the growth of the baby or the well-being of your family or about the delivery could add more stress and fluctuation in the hormones. So, if you are worried about your pregnant wife’s mood swings, this is one of the reasons.
4. Common health changes
Other physical and mental changes in a pregnant woman’s body could be observed in changes in her mood as well. Common issues such as morning sickness, fatigue, and nausea could affect her mental state.
Related Reading: 9 Ways To Cope With Uncontrollable Anger During Pregnancy
9 Tips To Tackle Pregnant Wife’s Mood Swings
Most pregnant women deal with mood swings sometime during their pregnancy — especially during the early days and their last trimester. Hormonal changes coupled with physical and mental changes could keep fluctuating the mood of the pregnant women.
Though there a few tried & tested ways to handle emotions during pregnancy, these mood swings could be a cause of concern and might also ruin relationships and could create turbulence in your marriage life. But hey remember it is your pregnant wife on the other side! Though it can be tough for you to go through all this crazy and irrational moodiness, keep calm as it is not her fault.
We know you love her. To make life even better, the below tips will help you deal with your pregnant wife’s mood swings in an effective way.
1. Be patient
As a partner, you must try to remain patient and handle your pregnant wife’s mood swings. Remember, two people arguing at the same time will not do any good. Instead, when her mood is fluctuating, try to remain calm rather than get irritated. Relax, as her mood swings are not going to last forever.
Just try to increase your tolerance level. Also, remember to keep your eyes and ears open to all her needs. The more you take care of and look after her, the better she can cope and stay de-stressed.
2. Abstain from giving back
When your wife is angry or when you have a quarrel, try to make sure that you do not reciprocate the same emotion to her as it will only make the situation worse. You could find her crying and shouting during early pregnancy but all you need to do is to respond to her with love and care. Try not to provoke her. Instead, stay by her side and comfort her, so that she feels better outside and inside.
3. Take care of her diet
A pregnancy diet could bring annoyance to a wife’s mood. So, do not try eating any junk or fatty food before your wife — especially foods that are restricted during pregnancy. Instead, try to accompany her by eating healthy food so she might not feel alone.
Also, abstain from consuming alcohol or smoking in her presence. If she is constantly irritated, offer her favorite food as low sugar levels could trigger mood swings.
Related Reading: Eating Street Food During Pregnancy – 6 Potential Risks And 5 Tips To Enjoy It Guilt-Free
4. Forget rationale
Don’t try to be a rationalist with your wife when she is pregnant. Don’t try to correct your wife in every argument. Remember, it is not about being or saying the right things during pregnancy. Let it all go for the sake of your wife.
5. Work out together
Pregnant women need to feel that they are not alone in this life-changing event. All you need to do is to keep your wife motivated. Especially during her times of depression, exercise is the best way to de-stress. Remember, working out is a great stress buster. Hence try to accompany her in her workouts.
Also, walking during pregnancy is a recommended option. Hence, try to take her for a walk and enjoy conversations that could bring both of you closer.
6. Make her feel special
Pregnancy can bring a lot of bodily changes. It makes pregnant women think she is unattractive and fat. This feeling could cause her mood swings. She might not have regular parlor visits, her belly grows every day, and her feet are swollen. She might be worried as her old dress no longer fits her.
Assure her that she is beautiful and that your love for her will never change no matter whatever physical changes her body undergoes.
Related Reading: 12 Permanent Body Changes After Pregnancy That Women Experience
7. Show her you love her
Of course, we do love our spouse, but how often have we told them about it? Keep telling her you love her more. Pamper and keep offering your love to her, especially during your pregnant wife’s mood swings. With your physical and moral support, she will feel stronger.
Keep a track of what she likes and dislikes as during pregnancy your wife might create an aversion towards her favorite food and start eating the ones she always rejects. Don’t get baffled as it is all about her food cravings during pregnancy.
8. Don’t take things personally
Ordinary life gets more difficult for her, as your wife progresses in her pregnancy. If ever you find your pregnant wife yelling and screaming at you for no apparent reason, don’t take it personally. It is not your wife, but her pregnancy hormones that are making her do all this. Try to understand the situation and respond calmly.
Shouting at her will only provoke her and make the situation worse. Show some understanding and your wife’s rage is obvious to subside.
9. Educate yourself about pregnancy and childbirth
Without no knowledge of what’s happening to your wife and doubts about why pregnancy is ruining your relationship, your life could become terrible. Once you get to know more about pregnancy and what happens to the baby growing inside the womb and the details of every trimester, you might have more and a better understanding of your wife.
When you are actively involved with her during the pregnancy phase with a better understanding, she will be happy and relieved about the future tensions and would rather be eager to welcome the baby with a positive approach.
Conclusion
It is natural for your pregnant wife’s mood swings to take a toll on your relationship. However, remember not to take them personally as it is due to their fluctuating mood. Deal with it patiently and see what works better to keep the pregnancy phase going better without any conflicts.
Simple words such as “don’t worry about it”, and ” I understand what you are going through”, are sure to give her the much-needed reassurance. It is your love and concern for her that is going to make her overcome these mood swings. She might overreact to small issues, create a fuss over petty things, and her insecurity towards you could tear you all apart. But keep in mind — this situation is temporary and she is always yours!