Mood Swings
Pregnant women are unusually weepy and emotional. Yet again, the culprit in the changes is the increase in hormonal levels. Often, pregnant women experience mood swings in the first trimester. Some doctors say that pregnant women’s mood swings are similar to what they felt before the start of their menstrual cycle. Contributors to mood swings are the heightened levels of progesterone and estrogen. According to studies, estrogen levels increase more than 100 times in the first three months of pregnancy.
The brain chemical serotonin, which many believe is the happy hormone, is associated with estrogen. But it is not always connected to happiness. Experts have yet to determine the exact interaction between serotonin and estrogen. However, they know that changing estrogen levels could lead to emotional imbalances and fluctuations. It includes irritability and anxiety.
Another hormone that increases during pregnancy is progesterone. Estrogen is linked to energy, while progesterone is linked to relaxation. While pregnant women experience many discomfort and inconveniences because of the increased level of progesterone, it benefits them. The hormone helps the muscles to relax, preventing the uterus from having premature contractions and, at the same time, slowing the movement in the intestinal tract.
