Week 7: The emotional rollercoaster
Image: @martinelynn_
Welcome to week seven of the Happy Parents Happy Baby guide to pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This week we'll be covering:
We hope you enjoy it!
The emotional rollercoaster
Pregnancy can bring big changes to your life and whether yours was planned or not, finding out you’re having a baby can be a LOT to get your head around.
There’s no right or wrong way to be feeling, but rest assured that if you feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster, there are lots of reasons why.
Changing hormone levels: a surge in pregnancy hormones Oestrogen and Progesterone in early pregnancy can lead to mood swings or feeling easily irritated. For most, these symptoms will wear off once your body has adapted to the higher level of hormones, so don’t be hard on yourself if you have a melodramatic moment.
Sleep deprivation: it’s not unusual to feel exhausted in the first trimester of pregnancy and tiredness is known to have a negative effect on mood. Listen to your body, rest when you can, take naps, accept help and go easy on yourself. Most find a renewed energy when the second trimester arrives.
Sickness: aside from the physical symptoms, morning sickness can also have major psychological effects. It’s difficult to feel your best when you are worried sickness might strike. We’ve got lots of tips for managing morning sickness here.
Physical changes: the physical changes that pregnancy brings can be difficult to accept, especially if you have had body image issues before. Many find that their anxieties are worsened by comparing themselves to others on social media and find a digital detox can really help.
Anxiety and depression: it’s normal to feel worried or vulnerable during pregnancy, even if you can’t wait to meet your baby. But if you feel like these emotions are starting to affect your ability to function, reach out to your midwife or GP who will be able to support you.
Strained relationships: many people find they argue more with their partner during pregnancy so it is important to try to discuss how you are both feeling. Occasionally this can be a time when domestic violence begins, so if you are concerned reach out to your GP, midwife or someone you trust who can direct you to support.
Financial worries: if money is a worry, you may be eligible for some extra support during pregnancy. You might also be eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant or Healthy Start vouchers for free vitamins, milk and vegetables.
Your baby’s development in week seven
Size of a blueberry
9-10 mm long
Your baby’s brain is rapidly developing now which means the head is growing faster than the rest of their body. Their ears and eyes are also continuing to develop this week.
The limb buds are starting to form cartilage which will turn into the baby’s leg and arms bones.
Incredible stuff!
Week 7 Checklist
You might like to:
Think of questions for your midwife. Your booking appointment is coming up so why not jot down some questions?
Consider a non-invasive pre-natal test (NIPT). It is not freely available on the NHS so you will need to pay for it separately.
Prepare some healthy snacks. You might be feeling tired and nauseous so spend some time making delicious, healthy snacks which will give you an energy boost while not aggravating your tummy.
Spotlight on: Food cravings
Each week we'll be delving into the common symptoms of early pregnancy and bringing you top tips for managing them from our team of specialists and parent community.
Help! I only want to eat beige food…
Why? Cravings and aversions are often one of the most talked about symptoms of early pregnancy. It’s totally normal to be turned off food you usually love, while also reaching for other things you wouldn’t normally fancy.
Cravings happen for different reasons such as a need for nourishment, hormonal shift or desire for comfort foods. Common cravings may include sugary foods if you’re feeling tired, plus salty crisps or carbs. And of course we’ve all heard of the women who’ve wanted to eat things like ice or chalk during their pregnancies too!
It is fine to listen to your body and eat what you like, but it’s all about balance so make sure you’re eating plenty of protein, fruit and vegetables and taking your pregnancy vitamins too.
Top tips for dealing with food aversions:
Eat cold foods rather than hot ones if the smell of cooking certain dishes makes you feel sick.
Eat plain foods, nothing spicy or greasy, and small frequent meals to avoid feeling nauseous.
Try to make sure you’re still getting enough calories as you will need these to keep your baby growing healthily.
You can read nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed’s tips for healthy eating in pregnancy here
Birth story of the week
This week we catch up with Charlotte and Mike from our Leigh-on-Sea antenatal course who share the positive birth of their baby Frank.
“I can honestly say everything that pregnancy threw at us, we coped with because of HPHB. At 37 weeks our baby decided to turn and was then breech. I remember texting the team and asking what our chances were that he would turn back so I wouldn't have to have a C-Section. I will always be thankful for the phone call from them that day - I went from being a nervous wreck to deciding to just go with it.
“We didn’t have a birth plan and decided we would go with the flow. This was because we actually felt clued up on things and so I never felt out of control and that's all thanks to the gang at HPHB. The first time I saw our baby I felt relieved, emotional, tired, oh and HUNGRY!”
Welcome to the world baby Frank!
Treat of the week
This week we are loving Morning Rescue by HotTea Mama. This tea is designed to support you as you cut back on caffeine, overcome morning sickness and prepare for birth, so it’s easy to see why it’s a firm favourite with our parent community.
The award-winning blend combines whole leaves of lemon verbena, mint and lemongrass with pieces of root ginger resulting in a soothing cuppa, ideal for when you tummy needs settling.
Products are based on suggestions from our specialists and community of parents. We may earn commission from shopping links.
Join our community
Happy Parents Happy Baby is here to support you through every step of your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.
Connect with other parents-to-be and learn everything you need to know, by joining our award-winning antenatal classes.
That's all for now...
Thank you so much for joining us - see you next week!
Information you
can trust
Our articles are based on the latest-evidence based guidelines and scientific research and are written by our team of medical experts.
Coming up
next week
What to expect from your booking appointment
Spotlight on: tiredness
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