“I Saw A Duck”: 30 Hilariously Trivial Reasons That Made Pregnant Women Bawl

Mood swings, from crying and being irritable to anger and forgetfulness, are completely normal during pregnancy. A random thought or event might make you sob for a few minutes, and then you might get on with your day as though nothing happened. This is nothing unusual. It’s also nothing to be ‘ashamed’ of.

According to Psychiatrist Lucy Puryear, MD, at the beginning of your pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone skyrocket.

“The changes have big effects on your mood. You can be tearful one minute and happy the next,” she told ‘Parents.’

New York City-based family therapist Jennifer L. Hartstein, PhD, explains that pregnant women are more reactive to everything. “After your meltdown, you can get freaked out, thinking, 'What is wrong with me?' This will get you upset all over again. Just remember that it's normal, and try to laugh it off and move on,” she explains.

During their second trimester, many moms can feel much better and more balanced, both physically and emotionally. Their bodies begin adjusting to the hormonal changes, even as the amounts of estrogen and progesterone continue to increase. However, they might still do impulsive things like suddenly laugh out loud during a serious situation or smile widely for seemingly no reason.

‘Healthline’ points out that for some moms, hormonal shifts can continue into their second and third trimesters. That means that some pregnant women have to contend with crying spells for longer.

Although you can’t control hormonal shifts, you can make it easier on yourself to handle them. Something that all pregnant moms should strive to do is to get plenty of sleep, consistently. At least 7 to 9 hours each night should help them handle all the additional stress in their life better.

Being physically active and gently exercising can also help with this. Meanwhile, it really does help to know that you’re not alone. You should never feel like reaching out to others is a sign of ‘weakness.’ Other pregnant women and moms will be happy to answer any questions you have and support you, whether by offering practical advice or simply being there for you emotionally.

The author of the viral thread opened up to Bored Panda that she had no idea that her post would blow up the way that it did. "I enjoyed reading all the responses. Pregnancy can be a wild ride, and I figured it would be a safe space for women to share their stories. Plus, sharing creates community which creates confidence: life is easier to navigate if you don’t feel like you’re doing it all on your own," u/kismitten said.

According to her, it was actually her sister who inspired the thread. "When she was pregnant with her first child, she had a very common nightmare: she dreamt she was carrying something OTHER than a human baby," she explained. "Now in most cases, women dream they’re pregnant with a litter of puppies or kittens or something like that. But my dear sister, being the adorable weirdo she is, dreamt she was pregnant with a sea urchin. She woke up in tears (understandably, because that’s a terrifying idea) and was basically inconsolable the entire day."

The redditor felt a lot of empathy for her sister in this situation. "Even if you’re not pregnant, vivid nightmares can really mess with your head. And because I believe laughter is the best medicine, I created and sent her a silly pic," she told Bored Panda, sharing the meme she made with us. Fortunately, it worked!

"She laughed and that helped her turn a corner on the whole thing. That very human baby just turned eight this year, and we still chuckle over that text. Thankfully my niece is the cutest, sweetest, most lovable kid ever… no spikes and infinitely huggable," u/kismitten shared with us.

We asked the author for her advice on what partners can do to support moms during pregnancy. "Embrace the rollercoaster and (more importantly) hitch a ride. Best case scenario? She has some wacky dreams, weird cravings, and serious swelling. Be present and helpful whenever you can. Make her your number 1 priority," the redditor urged.

"Also be grateful if that’s the case because 'getting pregnant' does not equal 'happy, healthy baby' nine months later… It’s important for people to realize that even today pregnancy and childbirth is still a dangerous undertaking," she warned.

The author joked that if you see your partner crying, you should "back away slowly." On a more serious note, tears are to be expected. They're par for course. "Seriously though, expect some tears. And expect the unexpected. My brother-in-law had no idea when he woke up that morning he would find his wife weeping over the idea of birthing a sea urchin. But he didn’t chide her or invalidate her feelings," she shared with Bored Panda that this is the key to a healthy relationship.

"It doesn’t matter if the reason for the tears is silly or crazy or whatever. Your pregnant partner’s emotions are real to her so treat them with respect!"

Redditor u/kismitten also had some words of wisdom to share with all pregnant moms who might be feeling a tad overwhelmed by everything. She urged them to take it one day at a time. "And don’t be afraid to ask for help. That old saying 'it takes a village…' exists for a reason."

What is the silliest thing that made you cry when you were pregnant, dear Pandas? How did you support your partners when they were pregnant?

What advice would you give new moms who feel overwhelmed with everything? If you’re feeling up to it, share your experiences and opinions in the comments!