Why are her emotions changing?
It’s completely normal for a mum-to-be to have up and down emotions, especially in the first 12 weeks – morning sickness and exhaustion aren’t much fun! She’s got lots of hormones whirling around her body right now, and she’s been going through massive changes – physically and emotionally. One day she may feel delighted about having a baby, and the next she could be riddled with fears and insecurities. In fact, she’s probably finding her swinging moods as unpredictable as you are!
What can I do to help?
If your partner’s being emotional or seems unreasonable you may understand that it’s just her hormones. She may even know it’s just her hormones - but whatever you do, don’t tell her that! Remember that however seemingly irrational they may seem, at that present moment her feelings are very real to her. So just let her talk if she wants to, reassure her if she needs it and wait for her to calm down and hopefully you can laugh about it together later!
Doing things your partner loves can help. Ask friends and family to babysit for a little while and take her to the movies or out for dinner; bring her flowers and cook her dinner while she lies with her feet up; and encourage her to spend time with friends and family she loves.
Reassure her
Behind her swinging emotions your partner may well have some real fears. So, in a calm moment, ask her if there’s anything she’s worried about and talk it through together. She may be worrying how you’ll all cope as a family, or need reassurance that you still find her attractive. Remind her that she is!
I’m worried it’s more than just hormones
If you think your partner’s suffering from more than just the normal pregnancy hormones and worries, talk to her gently about seeing her doctor or health care professional - there’s plenty of help out there.