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Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing in Pregnancy — What You're Feeling Is More Common Than You Think

Research-supported, mum-of-three observations — not medical advice.


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Pregnancy isn’t just a physical experience. It’s emotional, psychological and sometimes downright overwhelming — even when it’s deeply wanted. You’re growing a human, reorganising your entire future and trying to keep up with daily life… all while managing hormones that seem to have read too many Shakespearean tragedies.


If you’ve ever wondered, “Why am I crying at this advert?” or “Why does everything feel bigger than it is?” — you're not malfunctioning. You're pregnant, and your brain is adapting as quickly as your body.


Let’s talk honestly about the emotional side of pregnancy, backed by evidence and softened with lived experience.


Your Emotional Landscape: A Moving Target

Mood Swings That Make Zero Sense (and Total Sense)


One minute you’re calm, the next you’re welling up because your partner didn’t ask the right number of questions about your snack choices. Pregnancy hormones — especially oestrogen and progesterone — affect neurotransmitters, which can influence mood, sensitivity and emotional response.


It’s not “overreacting. ”It’s physiology meeting real life.


Anxiety About… Well, Everything


Pregnancy seems to come with its own internal search engine: Is this normal? What if something goes wrong? Why do I feel worried but I don’t even know what I’m worried about?


Mild anxiety is incredibly common, and often peaks in the first trimester and again as birth approaches.


Guilt, Pressure & Comparisons


Social media doesn’t help. The truth: no one is glowing all the time. And no one is meant to be endlessly grateful while also navigating nausea, exhaustion and existential thoughts about parenthood.


You’re allowed to feel however you feel — and your feelings don’t reflect your love for your baby.


Understanding Why Pregnancy Affects Your Mind


1. Hormones

They influence mood, sleep, appetite, and stress response. It’s a cocktail your body is adjusting to daily.


2. Identity Shifts

You’re stepping into a new role — even if this isn’t your first child. That change alone is huge.


3. Life Reorganisation

Finances, relationships, work, family, housing, health — everything comes into sharper focus.


4. A Very Normal Fear of the Unknown

Pregnancy is full of uncertainties. Even if you like control, pregnancy has a delightful way of ignoring your spreadsheets.


Understanding the “why” behind emotional changes can make them feel much less alarming.


Signs Your Feelings Are Common (But Still Worth Talking About)


  • Feeling tearful, sensitive or easily overwhelmed

  • Worrying more than usual

  • Difficulty switching off your thoughts

  • Feeling disconnected or “flat”

  • Trouble sleeping despite exhaustion

  • Feeling irritable without a clear reason


These experiences are shared by many pregnant women and fall within the spectrum of normal emotional adjustment — but that doesn’t mean you have to handle them alone.


When to Reach Out for Support


If you experience any of the following, it’s absolutely worth speaking to your midwife or GP:

  • Persistent low mood

  • Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

  • Feeling hopeless or unusually anxious

  • Panic attacks

  • Thoughts that scare you

  • Feeling unable to cope day to day


These symptoms don’t reflect anything about you as a person — they reflect your nervous system under pressure. You deserve support early, not only after things feel unmanageable.


Where You Can Find Support (Local & National)


Midwives

Your first and most accessible point of support. They’re trained to discuss emotional wellbeing just as much as physical health.


GPs

Can support with mental health screening, referrals, and tailored care.


Talking Therapies

NHS Talking Therapies are available locally and do not require a long explanation or crisis — you can self-refer.


Charities & Support Organisations

  • Tommy’s – information & specialist support

  • PANDAS Foundation – perinatal mental health support

  • Mind – mental health information & guidance


Local to Farnborough


Under Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, you’ll have access to:

  • Perinatal mental health midwives

  • Community midwifery teams

  • Local NHS talking therapy services via Talking Therapies Surrey or Hampshire services

Support exists — and you’re meant to use it.


Practical Ways to Support Your Emotional Wellbeing


Stay Connected

Regular check-ins with friends, family or your partner make a big difference.

Keep Moving (Gently)

Walking, yoga or stretching supports mood-regulating neurotransmitters.

Protect Your Rest

Sleep isn’t indulgent — it’s foundational.

Set Boundaries

Unsolicited advice is practically a pregnancy hobby for some people. Protect your space, energy and peace.

Be Kind to Yourself

Pregnancy isn’t a productivity contest. Your body is creating a human being — everything else can soften, slow down or be rescheduled.


In Short


You’re not meant to feel blissful every minute of pregnancy. You’re meant to feel human — adjusting, adapting, questioning, evolving.

Your emotional wellbeing is just as important as your physical health, and reaching out for support is a strength, not a weakness. You’re doing better than you think.


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