Watching Horror Movies During Pregnancy – Safe or Not?

Pregnancy is a crucial period and, consequently, there are always some do’s and don’ts associated with it. Women are often advised against watching scary thrillers or horror movies when they are expecting a baby, but whether this is merely a myth or actually a fact is a matter worth pondering upon.

Can Pregnant Women Watch Horror Movies?

Being a woman, a question that must have occurred to you at least once in your lifetime is that ‘is it bad to watch scary movies while pregnant’? Most people, especially those with a conventional mindset, would always suggest you not to go for one when you are pregnant. But the obvious question that arises is whether there is indeed any logic behind this or whether this too, is merely a myth.

The number of myths related to pregnancy is indeed uncountable and varied. While some of them say that the food you have during pregnancy affects your baby’s food habits in the long run, some others state that the pictures you watch during this period will affect the physical appearance of your baby, completely negating the role of genetics. So, certain myths related to pregnancy undoubtedly have no scientific justification whatsoever and are completely baseless.

Horror movies, in general, can be a roller-coaster ride of emotions for a person, whether or not she is pregnant. The effect of a horror movie on a pregnant woman therefore largely depends on the amount of stress that the movie exerts on her. In fact, any kind of movie that exerts stress on the expecting mother would be better to avoid.

Will Watching Horror Movies When Pregnant Affect the Unborn Baby?

The major and perhaps the only reason why watching a horror movie is discouraged during pregnancy is that it might cause stress to the mother. Stress in the expecting mother can cause hormonal changes in her body which, in turn, can affect the unborn child. Some of these problems may include the inability to concentrate or pay attention during childhood or being restless or getting freaked out very easily. Too much stress, in rare cases, can also lead to premature delivery or stillbirth. The primary concern that needs to be addressed in this regard, however, is whether horror movies indeed can be so stressful to the mother.

In simple words, if the mother is not comfortable watching a horror movie under normal circumstances, she should certainly avoid going for it while she is pregnant. However, if she enjoys it and finds it to be a pleasurable experience, it wouldn’t be harmful to the unborn baby in any way. In fact, this is true not only in case of a horror movie but also for any other genre of movie, or any other general stimulus for that matter. Anything that causes stress in the mother should be avoided during pregnancy.

Things to Consider While Watching Scary Movies in Pregnancy

It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to the period of pregnancy which is one of the most crucial periods of one’s life. Therefore, the following things should be kept in mind for the well-being of the baby at large:

• If a horror movie (or any movie for that matter) stresses you out or causes emotional turbulences in you, it is better that you avoid it during pregnancy.

• After about 24 weeks of pregnancy, the sense organs of the baby begin to develop. After this period, loud noises can be disturbing for the unborn baby. This area should be considered before the mother goes for a movie.

• If sitting straight for a couple of hours or so in the movie theatre seems to be exhausting during the advanced stages, it is better that you avoid doing so.

To sum up, pregnancy is all about what gives you pleasure and keeps you happy. So, if a horror movie can lift up your mood, there is no reason why you should avoid it. However, if you think that it can be stressful for you, it is always better to avoid it during this period.

Also Read: Best Pregnancy Movies to Watch When Expecting