The Ups and Downs of Pregnancy Emotions

The diaper commercial was a lighthearted montage of wild animals with their babies. Here was a zebra circling her foal, here was a penguin protecting her chick, and so on. Rod Stewart's "Forever Young" played in the background. Ten seconds in -- right around the time the elephant mom was wrapping her trunk around her little one -- I was weeping. Actual tears.

Did I mention I was eight months pregnant? Expectant friends, beware of sappy TV ads. The fact is, pregnancy can have a powerful effect on emotions, which can change by the minute.

Why the drama? Blame rising hormone levels. Experts have found a relationship between hormone levels and the brain's neurotransmitters -- especially serotonin, a chemical that regulates mood. "There are certain women who are more sensitive to those shifting hormones," says Robin Kopelman, MD, MPH, assistant professor at the University of Iowa's department of psychiatry.

And even the lucky souls, pregnant or not, whose moods aren't affected by rising hormone levels still face challenges that can influence emotions. Consider how you feel when you're fatigued, uncomfortable, or stressed by a big life change. Rare is the woman who sails through pregnancy without meeting one of those challenges! Step right up. It's a roller-coaster ride.