Mood Swings in Pregnancy: What Is Common and When to Call Your Doctor

The short answer: mood changes in pregnancy are common. Share how you feel with someone close, and call your midwife or doctor if low mood lasts, or if you have warning signs.

Pregnancy can bring feelings that surprise you: crying at an advert, snapping at someone you love, worrying in the middle of the night about things that did not worry you before. Many people feel ashamed of these changes, as if they should only be glowing and grateful.

Before anything else: this is not a verdict on you. Feeling up and down is not a failure of gratitude. And if you have a partner, this is a moment for them to step forward: is each of you doing your role? A pregnant woman whose partner carries more of the house, notices her mood, and comes to appointments is carrying a lighter load in every sense.

This article answers the questions people often carry about mood in pregnancy. Because this is a health topic, the warning signs below are quoted from official sources rather than rewritten. Everything here is general information; your midwife or doctor knows your situation.

Is it normal to feel up and down in pregnancy?

For many people, yes. Pregnancy brings big changes in the body, in sleep, in plans, and often in money and relationships. Feelings tend to move with all of that. Feeling emotional some of the time is common.

What matters is not whether you have hard feelings, but whether they pass, and how much they take over your days.

How do I know if it is more than mood swings?

The NHS explains that depression and anxiety can start during pregnancy, not only after the birth. Its advice is: “Be honest with your midwife, GP or any other healthcare professional” (NHS).

The NHS sets a deliberately low bar for asking: speak to your maternity unit or GP if “you’re worried about your mental health” (NHS). You do not need to reach a certain level of distress first. Being worried is enough of a reason.

Is it my fault if I feel this way?

No. Mood changes in pregnancy are not a sign of weakness or of being a bad parent. They can happen to anyone.

Research has found that some circumstances make low mood after a birth more likely, including low social support, stressful life events, and earlier depression or anxiety (Robertson and colleagues 2004). None of those are failures. They are reasons why some people need more help than others.

Will my doctor or midwife ask about my mood?

Many will, and it is good practice. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends screening “at the initial prenatal visit, later in pregnancy, and at postpartum visits” using validated questions (ACOG 2023). If nobody asks you, you can bring it up yourself. A simple sentence works: “I’ve been feeling low and anxious, and I’d like to talk about it.”

Can partners feel it too?

Yes. The NHS notes that “Fathers and partners can also have depression after having a baby” (NHS). A large review found about one in ten fathers had depression during pregnancy or after the birth (Paulson & Bazemore 2010). If you are the partner, your feelings deserve care too.

What can help day to day?

Alongside professional support, many people find these helpful:

• Say it to one person. A partner, a friend, a parent. Shared feelings tend to weigh less.
• Protect rest where you can. Even short rests count.
• Keep some routine. Regular meals, a short walk, daylight.
• Lower the bar on other things. The house, the to-do list and other people’s expectations can wait.
• Plan support for after the birth now. Who can help, with what, and when.

What can partners and family do?

Often the pregnant person is not the first to notice a change in their mood. A partner, a mother or a close friend may see it sooner. If you are that person, you can help without diagnosing anyone. Ask gently how they are really feeling, and listen without rushing to fix it. Offer practical help: a meal, a lift to an appointment, a quiet afternoon. And if you are worried, say so kindly, and offer to go with them to speak to the midwife or doctor.

When is it urgent?

This part is quoted directly from official guidance, because it matters.

The CDC lists urgent maternal warning signs during pregnancy and in the year after delivery. They include “Thoughts about harming yourself or your baby”, and the advice is to “Seek medical care immediately” (CDC, Hear Her). Read the full list on that page; it also includes physical warning signs.

If there is immediate danger, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department now, and tell your doctor or midwife.

What about after the birth?

The NHS describes the “baby blues”, tearfulness and anxiety in the first days after birth, and notes that it “usually goes away within 2 weeks” (NHS). If low mood lasts longer than that, or starts later, it is worth talking to your doctor or health visitor. Postnatal depression is common and treatable.

Before tomorrow

Tonight, write three short lines before you sleep: how your mood was today, out of ten; what made it lighter; what made it heavier.

Do it for seven nights. At your next appointment, bring the page. It turns a vague feeling into something your midwife or doctor can see and help with. And if any night’s line includes the urgent signs above, do not wait for the appointment. Seek care that day.

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Next step

Plan the support around you. Answer a few questions about your week, who helps and what feels heaviest, and get a 7-day sheet. My week map →

Sources

• NHS. Mental health in pregnancy. nhs.uk
• NHS. Postnatal depression. nhs.uk
• CDC. Hear Her: urgent maternal warning signs. cdc.gov
• Robertson, E. and colleagues (2004). General Hospital Psychiatry. Record
• Paulson, J. F. & Bazemore, S. D. (2010). JAMA. Record
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2023). Clinical Practice Guideline No. 4: Screening and diagnosis of mental health conditions during pregnancy and postpartum. PDF copy