Why is it harmful to cry during pregnancy?

Depression during different periods of pregnancy

The psychological state of the expectant mother changes for various reasons.
Not only the successful bearing of a child, but also the course of childbirth and the postpartum period depends on her well-being. The problem can arise both in the first trimester and closer to the resolution of the condition. Depressive disorders in pregnant women (prenatal) occur in 10-25% of cases. The number of cases increases in later stages (33-37%).

Negative symptoms often have varying intensity throughout the entire gestation period. However, objective research is insufficient to identify clear criteria for distinction.

Early dates

After discovering an “interesting situation,” the girl will have to adapt to the changed living conditions. Not every person easily accepts the news of possible motherhood, which is accompanied by heavy psycho-emotional stress. The situation worsens significantly with the development of early toxicosis (not in everyone).

The circumstances that arise are not always planned, so a violation of the usual routine causes internal discomfort and panic. Questions are raised about the future, work/study, the financial side of the issue, interpersonal and family relationships. Affective disorders (mood pathologies) can be a reaction to social and psychophysical changes.

Late dates

Normal intrauterine development of the fetus is carried out thanks to many neurohumoral processes occurring in the woman’s body. This complex mechanism is controlled largely by hormones, which also influence other systems.

In the second half of pregnancy, the girl’s appearance changes, and her general health may deteriorate. The likelihood of psycho-emotional disorders increases with the development of gestosis or other complications. In severe cases, patients are hospitalized for observation until delivery.

Before and after childbirth

Depressive symptoms may intensify or appear for the first time immediately before the birth of a child with a further transition into the postpartum period. The process of bringing a baby into the world can hardly be called easy. The experience is a strong stress factor not only for the body, but also for the human psyche.

Not everyone can immediately adapt to the role of a mother after this, especially in the absence of adequate help from loved ones. Pounding worries, the need to be at the baby’s bedside around the clock, responsibility for a new life - only aggravate the situation. There is a danger to the life of mother and child.

Why is it harmful to cry during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is accompanied by a whole range of emotions that do not always have a positive effect on us. Among them are those that make us cry.

To some extent, crying is normal during pregnancy, but when it occurs too often and is accompanied by various depressive conditions, it should be a warning signal for us. Unfortunately, crying can have a negative impact on a child, as it is a manifestation of depression and stress. Therefore, we should not forget that it is entirely up to us how we manage our emotional states during pregnancy so that it does not in any way affect the baby. In addition, it is very important to understand what exactly is wrong with us and immediately seek support from a specialist.

The relationship between hormonal changes during pregnancy and mood swings

During pregnancy, the levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (also known as hCG, this hormone is produced by the placenta) increase significantly. The first major changes that occur with these hormones appear at approximately 6-10 weeks of pregnancy. These changes also lead to changes in neurotransmitters (chemical mediators that can transmit signals to the brain and thereby regulate mood). On the other hand, studies conducted in this area have repeatedly proven that an increase in progesterone during the last two months of pregnancy can cause serious changes in the mental state of the expectant mother. Therefore, researchers from Harvard Medical School warn that about 10-15% of pregnant women may suffer from mild or moderate depression. At the same time, it is important to understand the difference between this condition and ordinary mood swings, which, as a rule, disappear on their own after a maximum of two weeks.

To identify depression, we must know its main symptoms:

• Lack of energy

• Deep feelings of sadness and despair

• Panic attacks

• Significant loss of appetite

• Serious sleep disorders

• Decreased interest in the normal course of pregnancy

• Loss of interest in everything that previously gave pleasure

Last but not least, crying for no reason can also be a sign of depression. Of course, when pregnant, women may cry much more easily than usual for no apparent reason, but when they cry too much and often, they should seek medical help.

What are the possible consequences of negative emotions during pregnancy on the baby?

A recent study came up with a thought-provoking conclusion: the emotions a mother experiences can affect the fetus, especially from the sixth month of pregnancy. It turns out that their effect is by no means temporary, since they contribute to the formation of the child’s future attitude towards life.

So, crying is normal during pregnancy, as long as it is episodic. You need to know that most often we have to cry in the following situations:

We Cry When We Feel Too Stressed Of course, we all experience stress at some point during pregnancy, but this feeling goes away over time. Thus, if stress is a passing phenomenon, no harm will be caused to the child. However, if we worry excessively and cry frequently, changes will occur in our hormones, which will be transmitted to the placenta. In this case, it is very likely that our child is also susceptible to feelings of anxiety and even suffers from chronic stress.

If We Cry Because We're Depressed Mothers who have moderate to severe depression during pregnancy and do not receive proper treatment will have babies who are at least 1.5% more likely to suffer from depression before pregnancy. of his majority. In addition, even if they are not depressed, they may develop other emotional problems, such as a predisposition to aggressive behavior.

If we cry because we are unhappy with the pregnancy

There are cases where women may feel unhappy about their pregnancy and therefore cry often. Such a situation cannot be favorable for the baby, since the condition of his mother will lead to certain hormonal changes that will affect the placenta, and subsequently the child.

How depression and crying can affect a child

If a mother does not receive treatment for depression accompanied by frequent crying, her baby will likely experience the following problems after birth:

• Increased susceptibility to sleep disorders

• Increased susceptibility to colic

• He will be more anxious and difficult to calm down.

• Will be too silent or passive

Last but not least, experts warn that moms who suffer from depression during pregnancy are more at risk of premature birth, and babies may experience developmental difficulties, both physically and mentally. Knowing about all these aspects and symptoms of depression during pregnancy, we will be able to analyze our internal state ourselves, and if any abnormalities are detected, contact a specialist in time. And yet, depression is treatable; there are a number of special treatment methods that will not harm us and our baby during pregnancy.

How can you prevent depression during pregnancy?

There are many solutions that can help us better manage the swings in our emotional state during pregnancy that can make us cry. Let's see what we can do to feel more relaxed during pregnancy:

• Try to surround yourself with people and activities that are dear and interesting to us

• Get plenty of rest

• Move (of course, taking into account the doctor’s recommendations)

• Try various relaxation techniques such as yoga

• Do breathing exercises

• Maintain a healthy diet

• Try to be more tolerant of the changes happening to us and think positively about pregnancy and what lies ahead. Of course, we also should not exclude the option of consulting with a specialist whenever we feel the need for it.

Do you know other important aspects related to the fact that crying during pregnancy is harmful?

Causes

Pregnancy in rare cases can be a provocateur of mental disorders or aggravate pre-existing diseases. In the development of the disorder, the complex of unfavorable factors affecting a person (biochemical, social, psychological) is important, among which the following are most often identified:

• genetic disorders and hereditary predisposition;
• previous interrupted or lost pregnancies, including abortions and miscarriages;
• neuroendocrine changes in the body;
• marital conflicts;
• primary dysmenorrhea – pre-existing menstrual irregularities;
• adolescence;
• loneliness;
• fears of new experiences;
• criticism from loved ones or others
• social disadvantage;
• psychotraumatic experiences, including distant ones (childhood, stress during puberty);
• concomitant somatic diseases, especially severe or incurable;
• disability;
• low marital satisfaction;
• difficult working conditions or impending unemployment;
• exposure to pharmaceutical drugs that the pregnant woman took without knowing about her situation;
• history of drug or alcohol abuse;
• social pressure on a girl “in position”, concern with stereotypes;
• severe pregnancy, threat of miscarriage, severe toxicosis/gestosis;
• unfavorable microclimate in the family or work team.

Stressful events usually precede or precipitate symptoms of a depressive episode, but not necessarily. Symptoms may occur for no apparent reason. At high risk are girls who initially had a predisposition to the development of psychoneurological problems (premorbid personality traits).

Why pregnant women become irritable

Why did it happen? This question concerns not only the friends and closest relatives of a pregnant woman - those who experience unexpected outbursts of irritability and anger. She herself sometimes doesn’t understand why she can’t calm down or quickly forget something that previously didn’t cause any emotions at all. And there are more than enough reasons.

The main one is hormonal changes in the body. After all, the amount of some hormones, including progesterone, which is responsible for irritability, increases many times. Another reason is psychological. Almost all pregnant women, especially in the first trimester, experience tension and anxiety. There are so many changes and important things to do, so many worries and problems, but those around you do not understand this. “It just infuriated me when at work they told me that some report needed to be done urgently, because it was very important. My whole life is changing, nothing is more important for me! And how can I stay late after a working day if I’m just waiting for the day to end?”

Those who suffer the most are those at home and mainly the future dad, who sometimes cannot even understand what he is to blame for. He may be to blame for the fact that he arrived an hour later than he promised (you were going crazy with excitement, but he doesn’t care at all); or the fact that he didn’t immediately rush to read the magazine about babies that you bought (he’s so indifferent to the child - maybe he doesn’t want children at all?); or that he didn’t find your favorite tulips in February (and it’s his sacred duty to please you now).

Why is it the husband who gets hit? Why are most of the claims brought against him, the person closest to him? Most psychologists believe that this is an instinctive test of the future dad's strength and preparation for ever-increasing responsibility. Another opinion is that nature “conceived” this with the aim of reducing sexual contacts at undesirable times for the baby. One way or another, such sentiments prevail among women, as a rule, in the first trimester of pregnancy, when adaptation takes place and when doctors actually often recommend limiting intimate life.

The second trimester is calmer. Emotional outbursts occur much less frequently, and many characterize this period as “serene anticipation.” The closer to childbirth, the more thoughts of the expectant mother are occupied by thoughts about the baby and the less she worries about all other problems. In the last few weeks, there has generally been emotional freezing and complete immersion in one’s feelings, so if conflicts do occur, then this is an exception.

Of course, in addition to physiological ones, emotionality also depends on other factors.

For example, depending on the characteristics of temperament - impulsive and impetuous natures are always more prone to quarrels and conflicts than calm and reasonable ones. This also depends on the conditions of pregnancy, including its timeliness and desirability. One way or another, all this is absolutely natural, and if you feel that you are overwhelmed with irritation, anger, resentment, give free rein to your feelings and...

Symptoms

Anxiety of varying severity occurs in almost 40% of women during normal pregnancy. In addition, we must not forget about the possible sharpening of individual character traits. Only a doctor can identify signs of an emerging disorder in a timely manner, which is why it is so important to regularly appear for examinations with your obstetrician-gynecologist, honestly reporting even minor (at first glance) experiences.

For formal diagnosis, the disease criteria specified in ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) are used. Possible violations are indicated by the appearance of the following symptoms:

• anxiety regarding the course of pregnancy, one’s own life;
• expressed fear of complicated childbirth, loss of a child;
• thoughts about one's own death;
• apathy;
• severe irritability;
• appetite ranges from acute hunger to complete absence and aversion to food;
• a woman stops enjoying activities that previously brought her joy;
• persistently increased fatigue not related to physical condition;
• mood is depressed most of the time, which does not depend on others or personal circumstances;
• emotional alienation from a partner, indifference to the growing fetus;
• suicidal behavior;
• obsessive ideas of harming the child;
• sleep problems;
• staying in solitude - a person does not want to see even the closest people;
• low self-esteem;
• obsessive feelings of guilt, shame, worthlessness.

Characters have emotional “outbursts” like a sharp jump in mood, but a temporary improvement in condition does not indicate the absence of a disorder. The pregnant woman delves into endless worries about the fate of the child and changes in her own life. Some patients, on the contrary, go into “denial”, reacting negatively to the development of the fetus.

Somatic symptoms of depression are difficult to distinguish from possible toxicosis, gestosis, or exacerbation of chronic pathology. Patients often lack criticism of their condition. People around you begin to notice changes in behavior, personality, and mood.

Why is depression dangerous in pregnant women?

Anxiety and depressive disorders can occur in mild forms with unexpressed symptoms. However, there is a possibility of developing the following consequences:

1. Miscarriage.
2. Insomnia.
3. Increased risk of bleeding, hypertension, maternal mortality.
4. Fetal growth retardation, rapid heartbeat, risk of mental (rarely somatic) diseases in the newborn.
5. Severe gestosis, the appearance of preeclampsia.
6. Suicidal thoughts and behavior.
7. Premature delivery, the need to resort to caesarean section.
8. Introducing the expectant mother to cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs.
9. Low adherence to obstetric and gynecological supervision, late seeking help.
10. Insufficient baby weight at birth, subsequent problems with appetite.
11. Self-harm, attempts to independently terminate pregnancy and even get rid of the fetus.

Clinical studies have established a connection between prenatal depression and the appearance of psychoneurological diseases in children in the future, for example, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Depression can threaten the lives of mother and baby. However, in most cases, babies develop absolutely normally.