Having an occasional crying spell isn’t likely to harm your unborn baby. More severe depression during pregnancy, however, could possibly have a negative impact on your pregnancy.

During pregnancy, your lack of sleep may be enough to make you cry. Staying up too late and having little rest are well-documented stressors for pregnant women. Keeping this in mind, a crying fit during pregnancy probably won’t harm your fetus. However, severe depression could cause some problems for the baby.

If you’re going through a stressful time, don’t be afraid to talk to someone about it. One of the biggest pregnancy fears is that crying during pregnancy and labor will harm your baby’s development. This isn’t the case. If you find yourself in an emotional crisis during pregnancy, talk to your partner or another good friend and figure out how to handle the situation together.

Crying during pregnancy can be tough on you and your baby, but it’s usually nothing to worry about. Crying is an expected part of pregnancy. Crying is normal, especially during the first trimester. In fact, some experts say that a few tears are actually good for you because they boost your levels of potassium and other nutrients that may help prevent complications during the second half of your pregnancy.”

Uncontrollable Crying During Pregnancy

Having an occasional crying spell isn’t likely to harm your unborn baby. More severe depression during pregnancy, however, could possibly have a negative impact on your pregnancy.

One 2016 study suggested that mental health issues like anxiety and depression during pregnancy may increase your chances of preterm birth and low birth weight. Another 2015 review of studies found a similar connection between mental distress and preterm birth.

If you’re depressed, you may not take care of yourself during pregnancy as much as you would otherwise. If you’re not eating enough or getting enough nutrients, skipping prenatal appointments, or not moving around, your baby may not be getting adequate care.

It’s important to remember that depression is not your fault, and neglecting your health is a side effect of untreated depression rather than a conscious choice.

We know you would never intentionally bring harm to your pregnancy. All this is just to underscore the importance of talking to your doctor, because there are treatments — ones that are pregnancy safe — that can help.

Depression during pregnancy also increases your risk of postpartum depression (PPD), which can affect how you bond with your baby. PPD is common and nothing to be ashamed of, but it’s important to talk to your doctor so they can help.

How to treat crying spells during pregnancy?

Unfortunately, you can’t control hormonal shifts during pregnancy. But you can take steps to help ease the effects of these shifts, which may relieve — or at the very least, reduce — crying spells.

Get enough sleep. Too little sleep can increase your stress levels, making you more irritable. Aim for at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
Be physically active. Ask your doctor about gentle exercises during pregnancy to boost your energy and improve your mental health. Go for a walk, swim, or take a low-impact aerobics class.
Talk to other moms or pregnant women. Getting support, either online or from a local group, may also ease some of the fear and anxiety associated with pregnancy. By talking to other moms, you can share advice, relate personal stories, and provide each other with emotional support.
Don’t overwhelm yourself. Yes, preparing for a new baby can be overwhelming and stressful. But don’t feel that you have to do everything yourself, or that you have to do everything before the baby arrives. This type of pressure can lead to frustration, guilt, and crying spells.

If you’re depressed, talk to your doctor. Certain antidepressants are safe to take during pregnancy. Plus, treating depression during pregnancy may lower your risk of developing PPD after baby is born.

The takeaway

Pregnancy can make you an emotional wreck, but you’re not alone. Rest assured that crying spells are perfectly normal, and this part of pregnancy probably isn’t anything to worry about.

But if you feel that crying is more than hormonal or if you have mental health concerns, make an appointment with your doctor — they are your best advocate when it comes to your health and the health of your baby.

Stomach Pain After Crying During Pregnancy

Several hormonal and physical changes can cause crying in pregnancy. These changes bring a lot of stress to women, and some women may find it more difficult to cope with stress than others. Pregnancy can be overwhelming and lead to mood swings and make you cry.

While crying does not have significant side effects for most pregnant women, excessive and persistent crying during pregnancy may indicate other underlying mental health problems such as depression or anxiety. Read on the post as we discuss the causes, side effects, and management of crying during pregnancy.

What Are The Causes Of Increased Crying In Pregnancy?

The following causes could lead to crying in pregnancy:

1. Hormonal changes

Increasing levels of estrogen and progesterone can make a pregnant woman experience strong emotions and make them tearful often. Once the body adapts to the fluctuating hormonal levels, the emotions may settle down. However, some women may continue to undergo emotional ups and downs throughout the pregnancy (1).

2. Mood swings

Physical stress, fatigue, changes in metabolism, and hormones can cause many mood swings in pregnant women. They are more common in the first trimester, between six and ten weeks. These mood swings may reappear in the third trimester (2).

3. Stress

Stress arising from the thoughts of labor, childbirth, childcare, finances, etc., can cause stress at any stage of pregnancy and is more common with the first child. It may lead to crying during pregnancy (3).

4. Physical changes

The following physical changes could make an expecting mother tearful:

Skin changes such as stretch marks could make it difficult for some women to accept the changes in their bodies.
Discomforts of pregnancy such as nausea or vomiting during the first trimester (or throughout the pregnancy), sleep disturbances, frequent urination during the night, and exhaustion of carrying excess weight could trigger crying spells.

5. Emotional moments

Some examples of emotional situations that could make an expectant mother cry include:

Watching an emotional scene in a movie or a TV show.
Going through the photographs of a young baby or parent-child relationships.
Watching videos of baby animals in trouble.
Witnessing the precious pregnancy milestones such as seeing the baby’s heartbeat for the first time, seeing the baby on an ultrasound, or feeling the baby’s kick can make it difficult for you to hold back your tears.

People commenting on your womb being too small or too big, on your changed appearance in pregnancy, or about how having a baby will change your life, career, and relationship with your spouse may bring an expectant mother in tears.
During the second trimester, some women may no longer fit in their regular clothes but are still small for their maternity clothes. Having no good clothes to wear during important social events or official meetings may leave a woman in crying spells.

Going past your due date and not having any signs of upcoming labor can make a pregnant mother feel impatient and frustrated.

When Is Crying During Pregnancy A Serious Problem?

While crying and emotional breakdowns during pregnancy are not uncommon, in some cases, crying may also be a symptom of a serious underlying mental condition such as depression.

Depression in pregnancy is called perinatal depression. It is one of the common pregnancy conditions and may affect about one in seven women. The signs and symptoms of depression include (4):

Feeling sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed.
Restlessness
Moody behavior
Excessive crying or crying most of the time
Feeling guilty or worthless
Having self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Changes in appetite
Problems with decision making, focusing, or remembering things
Loss of interest in activities that you liked earlier
Withdrawing from friends and family
Losing interest in things that were liked previously
Feeling weak, tired, and lethargic most of the time
Complaining of headache, stomachache, or other pains that do not go away.

Is Crying Bad for Your Baby While Pregnant