Pregnancy Rage: Is It a Thing? Why Does it Happen?

We’ve all been there.

Feeling that uncontrollable rise of emotion; the lump in your throat; the tightness in your chest when something is grating on you so. darn. much… 🙃

And that can just be from PMS hormones! 😅 [1]

So, we know hormones can be powerful little things.

But, their effects can make all the more intense when you throw pregnancy into the mix, too.

“So, what’s the deal with this whole pregnancy rage situation, then?”

Let’s go through it all together. 👇

In this article: 📝

Can pregnancy cause you to be more angry?

Hello, hormones. ✨

They’re responsible for a lotttttt of your pregnancy changes.

From emotions to physical appearance, your hormones are basically in charge at this point, mama-to-be. 🤷‍♀️

And these hormonal changes can cause women to experience mood changes during their pregnancy — sometimes, manifesting as anger and irritability. [2]

This could be directed at someone in particular (like your husband, boyfriend, or partner) or it could just be a general state of rage — not particularly selective with what it appears for.

What causes pregnancy rage?

Yep, you guessed it — it’s all about the hormones.

With estrogen and progesterone ramping up during pregnancy, this can cause moodiness — of course, as well as other more common symptoms like fatigue and morning sickness. [3]

It’s all fun and games. 🙃

But, on a serious note, pregnancy rage can be quite damaging to your mental health.

So, if you do feel like you’re suffering from more intense emotions, such as anger, while you’re pregnant, make sure to reach out to your doctor as soon as possible.

Does getting angry while pregnant affect the baby?

Some studies suggest it could have some effects on the baby, yes…

One study looked at the fetuses of high-anger women and noted that they were more active and could experience more growth delays than women who had low anger during pregnancy. [4]

It also found that high-anger women were more likely to have depression and anxiety, too.

Finally, it also suggested that newborns of high-anger women had more disorganized sleep patterns.

The study goes on to suggest that there is a need for prenatal intervention for extreme angry mood during pregnancy.

So, if you do feel an elevated feeling of anger and rage during your pregnancy, be sure to reach out to a healthcare practitioner who should be able to advise you on the best course of action. 🩺

How to calm pregnancy rage?

So, how do you keep calm when the pregnancy rage be raging? 🙃

• ✋ Walk away: Sometimes, we just need a minute. And that’s so okay. Walking away can be really helpful if you feel you’re in a conversation where your blood is boiling, and you need to take a sec to calm down.
• 💬 Talk it out: Chatting with friends, family, your partner, or even healthcare professionals can help to deal with intense emotions.
• 🏃‍♀️ Exercise: Physical activity (within your limits when pregnant) is great for improving your mood, giving you a boost of serotonin and dopamine. [5]
• 😮‍💨 Breathe: Try calming breathing exercises if you’re starting to feel overwhelmed. [6]
• 🍏 Healthy eating: Keep up that balanced diet, mama-to-be. Eating nutritious and delicious meals can be great to combat low mood.
• ✍️ Journal: Many people swear by journaling as the most cathartic method to get all the bad thoughts out of their brain. It sometimes helps to process things when you can see them written down in front of you.
• 📱 Social media break: Isn’t doom-scrolling through TikTok sometimes just exhausting? 😵‍💫 Watching other people’s lives, especially other mamas-to-be, and comparing yourself, can get you down and feel more intense emotions, such as anger. Detox those socials, girl.
• 👩‍⚕️ Know when to seek help: It’s important to be able to distinguish between anger you’re in control of, and when you need to speak to a professional. Your partner may be better placed to notice these changes in you, so try and be open to communication around the topic — even if it feels uncomfortable. [7]

Angry during pregnancy: boy or girl?

And, of course, what would a pregnancy symptom be without a gender prediction myth attached to it? 😅

Some people say that more mood swings and anger during pregnancy could indicate you’re having a boy. 💙

While, of course, there are many people who vouch for the opposite — and that pregnancy rage could mean you’ve got a little girl on the way. 💗

Of course, neither of these theories has any scientific backing.

And, like other gender prediction old wives’ tales, they’re simply just myths.

Ready to meet women who’ve been through it all before?

The Peanut Community is waiting for you. 🥜