Mood swings in pregnancy are very common to experience. Most especially, when you are in the first trimester and toward the end of the third trimester. You may describe it as a “roller coaster of emotions”. In a minute, you may feel happy shifting to anger, irritability, or simultaneous overflowing of emotions, so you may be feeling lost or confused.
In fact, the tendency of you getting severe mood swings in pregnancy is high, if you are experiencing Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) before carrying your baby.
You tend to be more emotional at these times. In worse case scenarios, pregnancy can cause depression.
Both of these can endanger your health as well as your baby; hence, it is important to seek help if you are experiencing the signs. Online therapy can be a great help in dealing with all these pregnancy emotions.
Mood Swings in Pregnancy
No, you are not being dramatic. What you are feeling right now as a pregnant woman is scientifically proven. There are real physical, physiological, and mental explanations on why moms tend be emotional during pregnancy.
Some of the reasons why you are having pregnant mood swings are changes in hormone levels, fatigue, sleep deprivation, morning sickness, physical changes, anxiety, and stress.
Here are the signs and symptoms of mood swings:
- Feeling extremely sad, irritable, or mad out of nowhere.
- Experiencing tiredness and having trouble focusing and concentrating.
- Encountering anxiety, feeling fearful, or panicky.
- Sudden changes in your eating or sleeping habits.
- Poor interest in things you normally enjoy before pregnancy.
- Feeling like you are just going through the motions everyday.
- Heart palpitations, rapid breathing, or muscle tension.
Depression in Pregnancy
An article from Mayo Clinic cited a research that about 7% of pregnant women experience depression during their pregnancy. Depression can cause a mood disorder affecting your emotions and occurs often in women as in men, so this is even worse than the pregnant mood swings.
Some of the alarming signs and symptoms of depression in pregnant women are:
- Too much anxiety about your baby.
- Low self-esteem, including feelings of being not enough about as a parent.
- Inability to experience pleasure from activities you usually found enjoyable before pregnancy.
- Not good reactions to reassurance.
- Poor adherence to prenatal care.
- Started smoking, drinking alcohol, or using illicit drugs.
- Low weight gain because of a decreased or inadequate diet.
- Have intrusive thoughts or thoughts of suicide.
10 Online Therapy Sites in the Philippines for Depression & Mood Swings in Pregnancy
Here are ten (10) organizations and associations in the Philippines that offer online support and consultations for mental health services concerning pregnant women:
| Name | Contact Details | Schedule & Facebook Account | Fee per Session |
| National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline (NCMH-USAP) | (02) 8531 9001 +63 917 899 8727 +63 966 351 4518 +63 908 639 672 crisishotline@ncmh.gov.ph |
Available by appointment every Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, via online video call or phone call. |
Telemental Health is a free and confidential online psychosocial support service.
|
| Philippine Mental Health Association Online Support | (02) 8921 4958 (02) 8921 4949 +63 917 565 2036cisd@pmha.org.ph pmhacds@gmail.com |
From Monday to Friday at 7 AM to 4 PM. Chat is available 8AM to 5PM, Monday to Saturday. Facebook PMHA official |
Regular services have socialized fees, you may email them for the full list. |
| Lunas Collective | Contact them via Facebook. | Monday to Sunday from 1 PM to 7 PM. | Inquire through their Facebook account. |
| Likhaan Center for Women’s Health Inc. | (02) 926 6230
|
Tuesday to Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM. | Consultations are free. |
| Natasha Goulbourn Foundation | +63 889 2217 | Every Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. | No payment needed anytime you want to talk to someone. |
| Manila Lifeline Centre |
Available via online and telephone. (02) 896 9191 +63 917 854 9191 |
Available 24/7. | Sessions are free. |
| Family Link Mental Health Education Program | +63 920 953 8629
|
Always open on their Facebook account. | No payment needed. |
| Mindcare Club | operations@mindcareclub.org | Mindcare Club Facebook | There will be a fee of Php 896 – Php 1,680 (VAT inclusive) billed before their session. |
| Hello Happy PH | +63 917 899 7117
|
Hello Happy PH Facebook
|
You only need to pay PHP 400 per session. |
| Kaloob: Low-Fee Therapy Services | +63 933 866 6828 | Circle of Hope: Kaloob | They offer PHP 750 per session. |
1. National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline (NCMH-USAP)
The National Center for Mental Health has a program named, “e-Konsultasyon” to provide free online therapy in the Philippines. They offer consultation sessions for anyone who may need help with their mental health.
This includes pregnant women who are experiencing emotional and mental struggles. NCMH’s sessions are conducted via Zoom with their mental health provider so you can easily access mental support.
2. Philippine Mental Health Association Online Support
With their free online support to cater mental health services, Philippine Mental Health Association can help online to children, youth, and adults, even to pregnant women experiencing depression or mood swings in pregnancy. This association has been known as the forefront of mental health advocacy for 71 years.
3. Lunas Collective
Lunas Collective is a local non-government organization that provides a safe and comfortable free online space. They mainly concern about gender-based violence, reproductive health, and family planning. The organization is a volunteer-powered helpline in the country.
4. Likhaan Center for Women’s Health Inc.
There are doctors and clinicians available at Likhaan Center for Women’s Health. Likhaan is a non-government and non-profit organization established in 1995.
It was built to respond to women’s expressed need for sexual and reproductive rights and health services. The goal of Likhaan is to help women help themselves, their families, and communities free of charge.
5. Natasha Goulbourn Foundation
Also known as simply NGF or Natasha Goulbourn Foundation is a non-profit organization and a charity. They have an initiative program called NGF Minstrong. This is to help bring depression to light in all genders and levels, including pregnant women.
6. Manila Lifeline Centre
Manila Lifeline Centre or MLC is a tele-counseling hotline that focuses on delivering free mental support. MLC caters to individuals for suicide prevention and awareness. Pregnant women who are having pregnant mood swings are welcome to consult.
7. Family Link Mental Health Education Program
The Family Link Mental Health Education Program conducts free mental health awareness programs. Their aim is to ease up the social stigma in the Philippines. They also help individuals deal with their mental illness and even addiction recovery.
8. Mindcare Club
The Mindcare Club or MCC offers telemental health service to everyone suffering with their mental health. They are a network consisting of mental health psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors in the country.
These professionals use online videoconferencing technology for delivering treatment and therapy to patients and members over distances.
9. Hello Happy PH
Hello Happy PH is a private business with the goal to provide online mental wellness support services. They help individuals deal with their problems through challenging times and empower them.
10. Kaloob: Low-Fee Therapy Services
Circle of Hope is a non-profit organization which offers low-free therapy services online. They call it, Kaloob in which caters to all including depression or mood swings in pregnancy.
Recommendation
Stay your pregnancy safe and healthy for you and your baby by having regular check ups. Not only for your physical health but with your mental health as well. Online consultations for therapy can be the first step since we are on a pandemic, but you can still ask when to see a physician for a face-to-face regular check up.
Ask your family or friends for chitchats or meet ups. This can help you cope up with your mood swings in pregnancy and lessen the stress you may be feeling. Communication is always key in dealing with your emotions and thoughts during pregnancy, especially with your partner.
Keep in mind that what you are feeling during your pregnancy are all valid.
Is this your second pregnancy? Read this: Research says baby number two can adversely affect your mental health