Surviving the emotional symptoms of pregnancy at work
Guidance for new parents – and for employers supporting them
When we talk about pregnancy in the workplace, the focus often lands on physical symptoms—especially exhaustion and sickness. But the emotional symptoms of pregnancy at work can be just as challenging to manage, particularly in professional environments where energy, clarity, and confidence are valued.
Understanding how these emotional shifts unfold, and how to support them, can help individuals feel more in control and help managers respond with empathy, not confusion.
What causes emotional symptoms during pregnancy?
While everyone’s experience is different, most people find their emotional landscape shifts across each trimester. Mood swings can happen at any time and are especially common in the first six months. These shifts are largely hormonal, not personal, and often completely out of your control.
✍️ For Employers: Recognising that emotional symptoms are a normal part of pregnancy helps create a more inclusive, compassionate workplace culture. But awareness alone isn’t enough, employees need to know they’re not alone. Consider setting up a Parents and Carers Network to create connection, reduce isolation, and share lived experiences.
Emotional Symptoms of Pregnancy at Work – By Trimester
Here’s a general overview of what many expectant employees report feeling at each stage:
MONTHS 1–3 (First Trimester)
- Emotional intensity & mood shifts: Rapid increases in oestrogen and progesterone can lead to emotional ups and downs—joy, anxiety, tearfulness, irritability—within hours!
- Mental fog (“baby brain”): Many report forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating, tied to hormonal changes, fatigue, and stress.
- Anxiety about baby’s health: Worries about complications are common in early pregnancy.
- Stress around disclosure: Concern about keeping the pregnancy private until the announcement is frequent and emotionally taxing.
MONTHS 3–6 (Second Trimester)
- Stabilizing mood: For many people, mood swings ease though mild anxiety may remain.
- Improved concentration, often: Energy and mental clarity often improve, though lingering fatigue and occasional mental lapses (“baby brain”) may continue.
- Sensitivity: It’s common to feel more sensitive to external attention (e.g., “bump chat”).
MONTHS 6–9 (Third Trimester)
- Renewed emotional intensity: Mood swings may return due to anticipation of birth and late-stage discomfort.
- Labour anxiety & “nesting”: Anxiety about labour and early parenting coexists with strong nesting instincts—urgent desire to prepare home and life.
- Concern about role transition: Worries about returning to work, being replaced, or shifting identity as both parent and professional are common.
✍️ Tip for HR and People Teams: Emotional changes can impact focus, confidence, and working style, especially in roles that are high-pressure or people-facing. Sharing resources and creating space for open conversations can help mitigate stress.
For those who may not want to open up in a group setting, offering confidential 1:1 coaching can be a powerful lifeline. Coaching provides a safe space to process emotions, build confidence, and feel supported through pregnancy and beyond.
🧾 Download our helpful FAQs to learn more:
• FAQs – Parental Transition Coaching for Coachees
• FAQs – Parental Transition Coaching for People Leaders
How to Offer Support at Work
For Employees:
The most important thing is to remember you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it. These feelings are a normal part of pregnancy. Let trusted colleagues or your manager know if you’re struggling and take breaks or seek adjustments where possible.
For Employers:
- Understand that emotional symptoms may fluctuate day to day
- Don’t expect “business as usual” throughout pregnancy—adjust expectations where needed
- Offer flexible working, quiet spaces, or wellbeing check-ins
- Normalise emotional conversations in manager training sessions
- Share articles like this on your intranet, parental leave hub, or HR toolkit pages
✍️ Want to go further? Our Mental Health and Resilience for Parents and Carers webinar gives practical tools for managing emotional wellbeing—and is suitable for both employees and managers.
Final Thought
Pregnancy isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, too. And those emotions don’t disappear when you enter the office. A bit of understanding, support, and planning can go a long way in helping expectant parents feel seen and supported.
➡️ HR Teams: Consider adding this content to your internal toolkits to build awareness
➡️ Managers: Empathy and small adjustments now can make a lasting impact later
➡️ Employees: Your emotions are valid—and you deserve support at work, too
👉 Want to learn how your workplace can better support emotional wellbeing through pregnancy and beyond? Contact us to explore our coaching, webinars, and manager toolkits.