Emotional in pregnancy?

[Cavy]

I am 8 weeks pregnant & extremely emotional. I have never been so grumpy, sensitive, bad-tempered, easily hurt... It's exhausting! I've been pregnant before, but never so emotional. Will this last the whole pregnancy? Does it get worse or better? Am I at higher risk for Post Natal Depression? Are there any good coping strategies?

Cavy, I'm always so emotional in the first trimester, it takes nothing at all to trigger a fresh batch of tears! It could be a memory or my daughter just looking at me or a commercial on tv. It didn't last the entire pregnancy, but can't remember just how long. I wouldn't think that you are at a higher risk, but hopefully you'll get some more thoughts from other women here.
hana

Congratulations Cavy on your pregnancy. I found that every time I have been pregnant I have got more and more emotional - this time I have been a total wreck. I hardly dare turn on the tv - the News makes me cry, ordinary programmes make me cry, and that Cancer Research Ad where the little boy's Mum isn't there ...... totally does me in.
I think it is natural. As far as I am aware, (and I know a lot about it having been through a very bad time once and a moderately bad time the second time) there isn't a known link with PND so hopefully thats something you wont have to worry about.
Hope you have a great pregnancy.

Yes, it is totally normal, and yes, it seems like it will never end, and yes, it does end.

I remember coming home from church one Sunday and running straight upstairs and flopping onto the bed and bursting into tears. DP came in to ask what was the matter, so I felt I had to give an answer, so I said "it's raining."

I also got signed off work for 2 weeks after I arrived one morning and cried for half an hour until I got it together enough to text someone to come to my office and escort me to my car - I couldn't even face phoning anyone.

Oh yes. . First trimester and last few weeks were worst for me last time. Haven't got that far with this preg yet!

Funnily enough, I was more emotional last time than this. Didn't get PND, though did have the baby blues quite badly. Maybe to do with the sex of the baby? Or the cumulative effect of other emotional factors (tiredness, worry, etc.)?

snap susanmt with that cancer research ad. I even nearly started blubbing when telling someone about it.

congrats also from me cavy - maybe you just need to abvoid anything to do with child or parental death - even the slightest hint of these sends me off.

Hopefully it'll settle down soon, just avooid those triggers.

I'm not pregnant, & that Cancer Research ad gets me going....

Naive question: what is the difference between baby blues and PND?

(that cancer ad with the little boy gets to me too, I have a neighbour who is only 36 and has two small children and three types of cancer...Nothing to do with me being pregnant, though)

Oh that Cancer Research Ad gets me too, just have to tell someone about it and I fill up, and that's when I'm not pregnant! That was an excellent campaign ad I thought.
hana

When I was PG I couldn't even listen to the music for Childrens Hospital without crying, let alone watching the program.

I find the Cancer Ad very emotional. For me it is also positive because DH is now 10 years from his cancer diagnosis. We are some of the lucky people that Cancer research has benefited. 20 years ago DH would have had far less chance of surviving. We are very lucky.

Marsup - the "Baby Blues" is basically the come-down (as it were) from the hormonal stuff of pregnancy and the euphoria of having a new little bab. Most women get a few down days - unexplained crying etc. I think most new mothers get it to some extent, but it only becomes PND if it lasts more than a few days/weeks.

also snap to the cancer ads.