Feeling teary? You’re not alone. It’s very common for expectant mamas to burst into tears over a touching movie trailer or an unthinking response from their partner.
Of course, everyone is different, and some of us express our feelings more easily than others. But during pregnancy, emotions can be hard to control, even for the more stoic among us. This is due to the hormones hard at work during pregnancy.
In the early weeks of pregnancy, your estrogen levels are very unstable. Estrogen is linked to serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for positive feelings like joy and optimism. When estrogen is erratic, so is serotonin. This can result in mood swings that bring you from euphoria to depression and back again. When your serotonin (and your mood) drops, anything can bring you to tears [1].
But why am I spending most of my time on the low side of this rollercoaster?
Individuals vary, and your body and hormone levels may bring you low more than high. But this is actually quite common. Approximately 7-20% of expectant mothers experience long stretches of depression and low moods. This is more common in sensitive individuals and those prone to anxiety [2].
Should I hold back the waterworks?
No! Express your emotions. Pregnancy is a difficult experience for the body and mind. Even if your mood is high and you’re feeling excited about motherhood, your body experiences all the changes and extremes simply as stress. When you feel stressed, it helps to let it out, even if you have to let it out in sobs. This naturally helps to calm you down [3]. In terms of its effect on your nervous system, crying is on par with yoga or meditation [4].
Crying is also a natural painkiller. It releases endorphins, which have a healing effect. Your body also produces oxytocin during a good cry. Oxytocin is commonly known as the “love hormone,” and it creates a sense of well-being [4]. So let the tears out! You’ll feel much better.
I prefer to cry when I’m alone, but then my partner asks me what’s wrong. What should I do?
By showing vulnerability and crying with your loved one, you open yourself up to their support and care [5, 6]. You may not realize that you are worthy of support and care; another person can comfort you with the gentleness and love you didn’t even know you needed in the moment. So go ahead and cry on someone’s shoulder! You deserve the support.
And if there’s no one around, cry anyway. Crying is a primal and natural method of regulating stress and mood. Trust your body: it knows what it’s doing.
