Highs and Lows

Third Trimester Ups and Downs

Your due date isn't the only thing approaching; your belly isn't the only thing that's full — your heart and mind are full to the brim, too. The third trimester is that mix of energy, impatience and hope and, yes, all the overwhelm. One minute you'll be like, dreaming about cute little feet, and the next freaking out over not being able to find your favorite snack and crying about it. If you have felt your feelings shifting hour to hour or minute to minute, know: that's normal, and you're not alone.

Not even these final weeks of pregnancy. You've come a long way — through the initial months of discovering this new person, through the bodily acrobatics of the second trimester and now into the homestretch, when your body is working like a dog to gestate life. But like your baby is growing, so are your feelings. Hormonal changes, physical discomfort and the enormity of what's ahead can bring out feelings you didn't expect, or magnify ones you've already felt. It's a time tender, powerful." And as challenging as mood swings can be, it is possible to work through them with grace, support and self-compassion.

The Emotional Roller Coaster: The Third Trimester

The peaks and valleys of late-pregnancy emotions astonish even experienced mothers. Let's take a pandemic-time deep-dive into why these shifts do happen, so that your understanding of what's happening inside you can make you feel a little more in sync with it.

Why You May Feel This Way:

• Hormones Gone Wild: By the third trimester, estrogen has skyrocketed. Affects that constellations of change can instantly impact your brain's neurotransmitters, making emotional reactions more sensitive.
• Feeling Hopeful but Worrying: Thoughts like "Will I go into labor early? or "Do I really have the right preparation for this?" are entirely legitimate and standard.
• Discomfort and fatigue: Back pain, swollen feet, heartburn and insomnia are more than physical — they sap your emotional fortitude.
• Mental Load: The third trimester is a countdown of sorts, from birth plans to baby registries with a rapidly growing to-do list.

All of this translates into a kind of emotional "storm" — at times breezy, at times blustery.

Mood Swings – The Highs And The Lows

Emotional Highs:

• Nesting Energy: You may be inclined to clean, organize or decorate. This brain activity is your mind's way of simulating a safe, caring environment for your little one.
• Joyful Anticipation: They ultrasound, the tiny baby clothes, and visions of cradling your wee one can unleash tsunami-sized waves of love and elation.
• Connection: Those intense kicks or hiccups can make for such sweet bonding moments.

Emotional Lows:

• Crying Over the Small Stuff: Lost your keys? Watched a touching video? They can even provoke unexpected tears.
• Irritability: You may be snappish or exasperated — particularly if you're tired or in discomfort.
• Fear and Concern: "Am I going to know what to do? Or "What if labor doesn't go smoothly?" These concerns are widespread and deserve consideration.

Soft Ways to Cope, Soothe and Support

Here's what I've learned helps women in the home stretch of pregnancy ride the emotional waves over and over again: Treat these are tools, not tasks — take what resonates and ditch the rest.

Anchor Yourself in Routine

Even basic daily rituals can offer consolation. Start your day with a favorite tea, light a candle in the evening or listen to soft music before going to bed. Therapeutic, uninterrupted moments go a long way toward countering wildly unpredictable emotions.

Talk It Out

If we hold feelings in, as many of us tend to do, they can seem even bigger. A vent to your partner, a heart-to-heart with a friend or a check-in with a therapist: Hearing your truth can help lighten your emotional load.

Prioritize Rest and Comfort

Sleep, even when it is not an option, when possible, still take morsels of rest. Prop yourself with pillows, listen to soothing sounds or take short naps. Your body and mind need this restoration."

Move Gently, Breathe Deeply

Prenatal yoga, stretching or slow walks can release tension and raise feel-good hormones. Deep breaths — inhale, hold and exhale slowly — can calm your nervous system when you're feeling overwhelmed.

Stay Nourished

Mood swings can also become more pronounced with low blood sugar. Keep simple, balanced snacks on hand — nuts, fruit, yogurt, cheese and crackers. Taking regular food stabilises our emotions.

Lean on Your Village

You don't have to do this on your own. Family and friends can pitch in with running errands, preparing meals or simply listening. If you are feeling alone, try to get local or online support group for pregnant women.

When to Request Additional Support

While mood swings are common in pregnancy, persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or emotional distance may signal something more. And perinatal mood disorders can happen during pregnancy, as well as postpartum.

Call your health care provider if:

• Half — at least — of the time you feel frazzled.
• Every day is interrupted by feelings of anxiety or sadness.
• You find it hard to connect with your baby, or yourself.

Everybody struggles and asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. You deserve care, too.

You Are Doing Beautifully

Mama, you are not carrying a baby — you are carrying dreams and fears and hopes and love the size of the universe. Be gentle with yourself for the hard days, and fill your heart with the soft ones. I believe that every emotion, every tear, every laugh — they are all sacred preparation.

You are brave, you are fierce, you will always be supported.

So here's a word to hold close: "I will ride this wave with patience and trust that calm will surely follow."