Pregnancy and being a new parent can bring buckets of joy. But it can also present many challenges, some of which you may not have anticipated, but all of which can affect how you feel emotionally. If this is you, it may feel difficult to talk about, especially with the age-old expectations that you’re only supposed to feel ecstatic when you welcome a baby into the world.
But here’s the thing: Mental health doesn’t discriminate – anyone can be affected by it, including pregnant people and parents. It’s more common than people realize, with mental health disorders affecting one in five perinatal people.[1] The timeframe referred to as perinatal includes when a woman is pregnant, giving birth, and up to a year after pregnancy. It involves some of the most biologically sensitive, emotionally charged, life-changing, and stressful periods of her life.
The good news is that early intervention for perinatal mental health can make a huge difference.
In this guide, we’ve got compassionate and practical perinatal mental health resources for everyone involved with pregnancy – moms and dads, mothers- and fathers-to-be, healthcare providers, and family members, too. So, whether you want to understand the most common mental health challenges, look into perinatal mental health treatment options, or support someone you love, you’ve found the right place.
Pregnancy and childbirth are times of celebration for families. However, they’re also times of vulnerability. You’re trying to find your feet in your new role, and if you’re pregnant or have just given birth, your hormones may be leading you to feel things you didn’t anticipate.
With any period of vulnerability comes an added risk of mental health difficulties, and pregnancy and post-birth are no exception. Certain mental health conditions, such as perinatal depression and anxiety, mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, can sneak up on you.
These conditions can have a huge impact on your mental, physical, and emotional health, including how you parent and feel about yourself. So, it’s important to be clued up on them, so you can understand what they are, how they may affect you, and the types of support that are out there for you.
Perinatal depression can start during pregnancy (prenatal depression) or after giving birth (postnatal/postpartum depression). You might feel sad, anxious, and exhausted, making it difficult to carry out usual tasks like caring for yourself and others.[2]
Fortunately, you don’t have to manage this alone. There are treatment options and support available for people struggling with perinatal depression. We’ll look into these later on this page.
Perinatal anxiety can leave you feeling constantly worried, on edge, unable to relax, with racing thoughts and feelings that something bad is going to happen. You may also have panic attacks, where you feel short of breath, have chest pain or heart palpitations, and feel dizzy in waves.[3] You might have perinatal anxiety on its own, but it often comes along with perinatal depression.
Again, you can get help and treatment for perinatal anxiety, and there are many perinatal anxiety and depression resources freely available which we shall look at later.
Perinatal OCD means that you have intrusive, repetitive, unpleasant thoughts (obsessions) with the irrational urge to carry out certain actions or rituals (compulsions) to avoid something bad happening. Usually, these thoughts will be focused on the health and safety of your baby or the pregnancy, but they can also be around other things.[3]
Perinatal OCD can get in the way of your daily life and feel very frightening. If you think you may be experiencing perinatal OCD, know that you’re not alone. Up to as many as 16 in every 100 women experience it, and can be treated very effectively.[4]
If you have a pregnancy complication, unplanned C-section, or traumatic experience during your pregnancy or while giving birth, you might experience perinatal PTSD. This typically involves having flashbacks or nightmares about what happened.cite publication-date=”2025, March 18″ title=”About perinatal mental health” publication=”Postpartum Support International” url=”https://postpartum.net/perinatal-mental-health/”] Self-care, therapy, and medication can all be used to manage perinatal PTSD.
Bipolar disorders generally have two phases – the highs, and the lows. The lows are called depressive episodes, while the highs are called mania or manic episodes. Half of all women with bipolar disorder are first diagnosed with it during the postpartum period, so it’s common for this condition to reveal itself now.[3]
Bipolar disorders are very treatable and manageable. Learn more about Perinatal Bipolar Disorder impacts women.
Perinatal or postpartum psychosis is a serious condition that can begin after giving birth. You might have thoughts or beliefs that aren’t true, see or hear things that aren’t really there, feel paranoid, or be confused.[3]
If you feel like this, it is a serious situation that needs treatment immediately, so please call 911 or head to your nearest emergency room for help. Recovering from postpartum psychosis is totally possible as long as you get professional support.
With 20-25% of women affected by perinatal or postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), recognizing perinatal mental health issues is vital, not just for you but for your family, too.
Some of the most common indications of perinatal mood disorders are:[1]
If you recognize some of these, you may be struggling with a PMAD. However, it’s important to know that these aren’t the only signs. If you find yourself struggling, it’s always a good idea to reach out to your doctor to get some support. There are many perinatal mental health resources available for you, as well as treatments to help you get back to your old self again.
Pregnancy and the months after giving birth are times of massive change. With hormonal and physical changes from being pregnant, as well as adjusting to a life-changing event – the birth of your child – you may feel a range of emotions, both positive and negative. Joy, sadness, fear, and many more feelings are all normal reactions to what you are going through.
However, if you are feeling sad, anxious, or overwhelmed more often than not, these may be signs of a mental health condition. As a mental health condition can affect both you and your family, including your baby, it’s important to seek support when necessary.
Mental health treatment for expecting mothers can include a variety of approaches. Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective at treating and managing stress, depression, and anxiety. You can also join support groups that allow you to connect with other people who are going through the same challenges as you, which can be a great source of emotional support. Medication may also be prescribed as part of a treatment plan if your doctor feels that is the best option for you.
While you’re utilizing these treatment approaches, it can be helpful to proactively take care of yourself at home, too. Self-care can be hugely beneficial for improving your overall well-being alongside other therapeutic approaches. There are lots of resources that we will share with you in the next section so that you can feel truly supported, even at home.
If you feel like you’re struggling, please don’t suffer in silence. Take a look at some of the perinatal mental health resources below, or contact your healthcare provider to get the treatment you deserve.
A perinatal mental health guide wouldn’t be complete without giving you resources to use in your own time. We’ve got the most trusted organizations and hotlines, guides, apps, and more for you to check out below which we hope you will find useful for developing coping strategies for perinatal mental health.
We are not affiliated with these tools however many people have benefitted from their use and we want to share them with you. Our hope is that you find the support you want and need. We’re here to help anytime, give us a call at 866-833-1822 or use the resources below.
If you recognize some of these signs in your patients, they may be struggling with a PMAD. However, it’s important to know that these aren’t the only signs. If you find yourself in need of supporting a patient with perinatal mental health symptoms there are many resources available to help you provide guidance. You can also reach out to our team to refer your client for care at Mission Connection.
Family support for perinatal mental health is so important for pregnant women and new mothers, but it can be difficult to know how to help. Here are some tips on supporting your loved one or partner through this challenging time:
Remember to take care of yourself too. Supporting someone going through perinatal mental health issues can be emotionally tough, and you can’t pour from an empty cup.
If you or someone you love is struggling with their mental health, you don’t have to go through it alone. At Mission Connection, our professional team offers compassionate and expert perinatal mental health services that can be tailored to meet your unique needs. From resources and support groups to therapy, medication management, and even 24/7 care, we have you covered.
Explore our site to discover a range of perinatal mental health resources, or get in touch to speak to one of our friendly advisors today. Whether you’re looking for education, therapy, or a supportive space to begin your journey to mental well-being, we’re here to listen and to help you. Give us a call at 866-833-1822 or start your support online with our form.
