Emotions During Pregnancy
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
My sister is 32 years old and 35-weeks pregnant. The last 2 months, she and my mother have been arguing really bad. They have never fought other than through the teenage years and have loved each other always. Being the oldest brother and son, and almost being put in the middle of this, I do have one question.
A lot like postpartum depression, is there some condition or clinical term for emotional loss of control during pregnancy? She hasn't been a real great wife these last 5-6 weeks either. Her husband is afraid to go home from work and this is not like Lisa at all.
I would appreciate anything that you can offer that might help. I can't imagine that this whole thing is doing any good for the baby. I am the father of 6 children from two wives and both marriages had wonderful pregnancies.
ANSWER
There are women whose hormones go out of control during pregnancy and shortly thereafter who are perfectly normal otherwise. These women do very well if they are properly medicated, and very poorly otherwise.
Your sister and/or her husband should report her symptoms to her provider asap and she should get the help she needs. This condition will only get worse without intervention. Good luck.
-- Cynthia, CNM
Printer-friendly version- Send to friend
- Login or register to post comments
- Comments (1)
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, teaches in the College of Nursing at Seattle University and is President of the American Association of Birth Centers. She also practices midwifery at Valley Medical Center where she cares for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
Cynthia hosts a monthly "Ask the midwife" chat as well as answers questions via our expert section.
Listen to Cynthia live on Pregnancy.org Live: Before, During and After.
