Hyperremotivity during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the woman undergoes major physiological and psychological changes. All basic emotions become exaggerated, unpredictable and changing. Thus, ′′ emotion, tantrums, mood swings, hypersensitivity, anger, irritability, and susceptibility ′′ are attributed first to hormonal upheaval and secondly to a new status, motherhood.
The hormones
During pregnancy, several hormones are produced in very large amounts to allow for the proper development of the fetus. But since this hormone level is important, it can also affect the moods of pregnant women.
Estrogen would have an exciting effect, while progesterone, would have a sedative effect instead. Prolactin, the breastfeeding hormone, would have a relaxing effect, while dopamine, a precursor hormone of adrenaline and noradrenaline, would act as a trigger of pleasure. Cortisol, stress hormone, can make the woman irritable and hypersensitive.
In addition, hormonal disturbance due to the fluctuation and interaction of these different hormones with each other, would cause imbalances and mood changes in the mom-to-be.
The move to a new status
Pregnancy is a time for questioning and doubting. Pregnant, the woman knows she will become a mother in a few months and this change of identity can cause fears and anxieties like:
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The fear of not knowing how to care for the baby
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Fear of physiological upheavals like facing your transforming body (rounding belly, chest increasing or skin changing)
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Fear for child health
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The stress of the unknown, such as questions about childbirth
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Fear of pain during birth: fear of epidural, caesarean section, forceps
Anguish from stressful events in everyday life
Stress from ′′ problem ′′ pregnancy or complications from previous pregnancy
Because of too much psychological disruption, the risk of births coming before term.
Hyperemotivity is the peculiarity of an individual to feel and react to emotions in excessive or negative ways, leading to unnatural reactions in proportion to the trigger event. The slightest excitement causes the person emotional reactions such as joy, anger or sadness, and body like colic, redness, crying, abundant sweating, sweaty hands… 1 Hyperemotivity may appear , when the ground permits, following a major emotional shock or a major psychological event, such as pregnancy.
Symptoms and manifestations of hyperremotivity:
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Vulnerability
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The fear
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Anxiety
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Increased sensitivity
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The difficulty of dealing with emotions
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The fear of abandonment
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Light personality disorders like mood swings or some irritability
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A tendency towards victimization
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Relationship difficulties.
There is no diagnosis specific to hyperremotivity.
Possible complications:
If the person fails to handle his emotions, he may feel some harm from being rejected by his surroundings who can misunderstand his excessive reactions. A complication of hyperremotivity can therefore be the development of a depressive state. In this case, psychological care proved necessary.
Being in the utmost calm
Talking to his surroundings. Being listened, supported, helped and understood by your spouse and friends, reassures the mother-to-be.
- Trying to self-check. Reasoning one another, venting one’s mind, going to walk, relax…
Attending Birth Preparation Class. Birth preparation courses help to disdramatize pregnancy and childbirth and alleviate the anxiety they generate.
- Advise from specialists: wise women, gynecologists, or psychologists, will always have a careful ear to allow pregnancy to be experienced positively by the mother-to-be!