Mental Stages of a Mother During Pregnancy

Among other symptoms of pregnancy, changes in mood can be very noticeable. According to the Mayo Clinic, "The flood of hormones in your body in early pregnancy can make you unusually emotional and weepy. Mood swings are common, especially in the first trimester." The mental stages of a mother during pregnancy changes as her baby grows. Each month brings on different stages of growth for the baby as well as a variety of mental stages for the mother. Knowing what they are can help you know what to expect.

Month 1 & 2

In the first couple of months of a pregnancy, the mother may feel anxious. There are a couple of reasons for this mental stage. If she is not sure that she is pregnant, she will be anxious to find out. When she does find out, her anxiety may be caused by thoughts of telling others. Another emotional stage that may occur is fear. The woman begins to understand the reality of her situation. In addition, because of fluctuating hormones, the woman may experience sadness, irritability and irrational behavior.

Month 3 & 4

The mental stage of a mother in the third month of pregnancy brings on a unique calmness. This is due to her acceptance of the pregnancy. The woman continues to experience some irritability, sadness and irrational behavior. Some excitement may be present if the woman is beginning to show. The woman may begin to be forgetful and have difficulty concentrating. According to the book, "What To Expect When You're Expecting" by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel, this is quite normal. "Researchers have found that a woman's brain-cell volume actually decreases during pregnancy." Fortunately this is temporary.

Month 5 & 6

In months five and six, the mother's mental stage is even calmer than previous months. However, there are still some mood swings, such as weepiness and irritability. Difficulty concentrating continues, too. Excitement increases because the woman begins to think of the future. At times she may feel bored about the pregnancy because that's all anyone ever talks about.

Month 7 & 8

Months seven and eight bring about more excitement. These are the months where the mother's excitement is at its peak. She may be looking forward to holding her newborn, getting back into shape, or both. Her forgetfulness continues. Dreams intensify in variety and vividness.

Month 9

The mental stage of a mother during pregnancy in month nine is mostly what everyone expects it to be. Relief that it's almost over, impatience, irritability and increased excitement about holding the baby.

Resources

• National Institute of Health