How Outpatient Mental Health Treatment Helps Pregnant Women
Pregnancy is often portrayed as a glowing, blissful time. However, real life doesn’t always live up to this picture of perfection. Behind the smiles and baby bumps, many women quietly struggle with anxiety, overwhelm, and sadness. The good news is that they don’t have to struggle alone.
Mental health challenges during pregnancy are much more common than most people realize, affecting one in five pregnant or postpartum people every year in the U.S.1 Conditions like anxiety and depression can seem to appear out of nowhere, affecting your well-being as well as the health of your baby. This is why mental health services during pregnancy are so vital.
Outpatient mental health treatment for pregnant women can be a lifeline for those in need of help. Through therapy, medication management, and consistent professional support, women can manage their mental health while caring for themselves and their growing families.
If mental health conditions during pregnancy are a concern for you or a loved one, professional support and guidance are available. This page can also help, as it aims to raise awareness of the challenges pregnant people face, as well as their treatment options, including:
- Common mental health challenges in pregnancy
- Outpatient perinatal mental health care
- Treatment options
- How to access services
- Finding support for mental health challenges during and after pregnancy
Coping With Mental Health Challenges During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of great excitement, but there may also be challenges that you weren’t expecting. One of these could be a mental health issue. While hormone changes in pregnancy can impact your mood, a mental health condition is different.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common mental health challenges people sometimes struggle with when pregnant.
Common Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy:
- Prenatal Depression: Around one in seven women experience depression either during pregnancy or in the first couple of weeks after giving birth.2 You can read more about perinatal depression here.
- Prenatal Anxiety: 15% of women experience prenatal anxiety, which is completely understandable given the huge changes pregnancy and birth can create in people’s lives.2 You can find out more information on our perinatal anxiety page.
- Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD can affect up to 22% of pregnant people, and those who already have OCD could likely feel their symptoms worsen during pregnancy.3 Click here to read more about perinatal OCD.
- Perinatal Bipolar Disorder: Of women diagnosed with bipolar disorder, around half were first diagnosed shortly after pregnancy.4 Plus, if you already have bipolar disorder, you may be more likely to experience depressive or mixed episodes rather than hypomanic or manic phases.5 You can learn more about perinatal bipolar disorder here.
According to the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, some people have a higher risk for perinatal mental health conditions, including:6
- People with a personal or family history of mental health conditions
- Individuals of color
- Those living in low-income areas
- Female veterans
- Immigrants
- Women who have previously experienced birth trauma
- People with little social support
- Those with life stressors, like job changes and financial issues, as these can add to feelings of anxiety or depression
Managing mental health during pregnancy is important for both your and your baby’s health. If you are experiencing mental health challenges, reaching out for support is the best step you can take for your well-being. One of the options available is outpatient mental health treatment for pregnant women, which we will look at next.
What Is Outpatient Care for Pregnant Women?
Outpatient services for pregnant people with mental health challenges are a great option if someone doesn’t need specialist, round-the-clock care. Outpatient mental health treatment for pregnant women means attending appointments at a hospital or clinic for check-ups, treatment, and monitoring of symptoms.
Depending on the treatment you receive, you may not even have to leave your home. Telehealth services allow you to have virtual appointments from almost anywhere in the country, as long as you have access to a mobile phone or video camera.
Additionally, outpatient care for mental health, such as anxiety treatment for pregnant women, is flexible and accessible to many people. Treating depression during pregnancy, or any mental health condition in fact, can fit around your daily life and responsibilities, meaning you can keep your usual routine going during your pregnancy.
Outpatient Mental Health Treatment for Pregnant Women: Treatment Options
You may be wondering what type of treatment you can get as an outpatient for your mental health struggles. Well, there are plenty of available resources for mental health in pregnant women. We cover some of these in the information below.
Consultations
You can attend consultations with your doctor, psychiatrist, or mental healthcare professional as an outpatient. This way, you can talk to the right people about your symptoms and get the best support when you need it most. As part of your treatment, medication may be suggested to help you through the mental health challenges you face. If this is an option for you, follow-up appointments are essential for checking how you are doing on this course of treatment.
Therapy for Pregnant Women With Mental Health Issues
Therapy is a highly effective and safe treatment for mental health issues, helping many people recover and feel more positive about the present and future. For instance, psychotherapy, often referred to as “talk therapy”, can help you understand your condition and make changes that will positively impact your thoughts and feelings. It can be done on a one-to-one basis with just you and the therapist, and is completely confidential. Therapies with a wealth of evidence to back their effectiveness at treating conditions such as anxiety or depression include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT).7,8
Group Therapy
Outpatient therapy for pregnant women can also happen in a group setting. These groups are led by a trained facilitator and provide a safe and supportive space for you to share your experiences. They also give opportunities to learn coping strategies and connect with other people facing similar challenges.
Telehealth
Telehealth is a term used to describe healthcare services that are carried out remotely. This could be through using technology like video or phone calls to monitor your condition or provide you with care and advice. Even therapy can be done online without you needing to leave the comfort of home.
Benefits of Outpatient Mental Health Treatment
Outpatient mental health treatment for pregnant women comes with many benefits. For instance, if you choose outpatient treatment for your needs, you can:
- Carry on with your daily routine at work or at home
- Attend therapy at times that suit you
- Spend more time at home and less at the hospital
- Access mental health support on your schedule
- Book therapy sessions more flexibly
- Benefit from the cost-effective aspects of outpatient care in comparison to inpatient care
These benefits don’t even cover the pros of looking after your mental health. Getting treated for a mental health condition means that you’ll likely feel better in yourself and in your role as a mother. Studies show that having this care can allow you to be more responsive to your baby’s cues, have better interactions with your baby, and experience fewer breastfeeding challenges.6
On an important note, early intervention is the key to depression and anxiety treatment during pregnancy. If you get the support you need early on, you can prevent your symptoms from worsening. Pregnancy can be a wonderful time in your life, and you don’t need to struggle with mental health issues on your own. Help is out there, and treatment can make a real difference in your experience.
Also, remember that outpatient care doesn’t need to stop once you’ve had your baby. You can continue your treatment and access postpartum mental health support for any wobbles that you experience once your bundle of joy arrives.
Accessing Perinatal Mental Health Services
Outpatient mental health treatment for pregnant women is essential. If you think you may have a mental health condition, it’s time to make an appointment with a healthcare provider, such as a doctor or mental health professional. They can talk with you about your symptoms and discuss the best treatment options for your needs.
Mission Connection can help. Our team provides a range of services, including assessment, individual and group therapy, telehealth services, medication management, and much more.
We also offer treatment for people who need more than the traditional once-a-week therapy sessions, ensuring flexible appointments so that you can access the care you need, wherever you are. We are fully HIPAA compliant, and you can expect confidentiality and compassion from our licensed experts.
Seek Professional Support Today
Having a baby can feel like a bumpy ride, but when it comes to your mental health, we can make the road smoother. If you or your loved one is struggling with their mental health, know that help is available. At Mission Connection, we offer compassionate care and expert services that can be personalized to fit your needs. From evidence-based therapies like CBT to medication management, support groups, resources, and even round-the-clock care, we can provide you with the best possible support.
Explore our website to discover more about perinatal mental health, or contact our team today to find out more about how we can help.
References
- Maternal Mental Health | AHA. (n.d.). Maternal Mental Health. American Hospital Association. Retrieved June 6, 20205, from https://www.aha.org/maternal-mental-health.
- Abdelhafez, M., Ahmed, K., Ahmed, N., Ismail, M., Daud, M. N. B. M., Ping, N. P. T., Eldiasty, A., Amri, M. F. B., Jeffree, M. S., Kadir, F., Baharuddin, D. M. P., Bolong, M. F. B., Hayati, F., BtAzizan, N., Sumpat, D., Rahim, S. S. S. A., & Malek, E. H. A. (2023). Psychiatric illness and pregnancy: A literature review. Heliyon, 9(11). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20958
- Hudepohl, N., MacLean, J. V., & Osborne, L. M. (2022). Perinatal Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Epidemiology, Phenomenology, Etiology, and Treatment. Current Psychiatry Reports, 24(4), 229–237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-022-01333-4
- Postpartum Support International. (2025, March 18). About perinatal mental health. https://postpartum.net/perinatal-mental-health/
- Hasser, C., Ameresekere, M., Girgis, C., Knapp, J., & Shah, R. (2024). Striking the balance: Bipolar disorder in the perinatal period. FOCUS the Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, 22(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20230020
- Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance: MMHLA. (2024, October 29). Maternal Mental health Conditions and Statistics: An overview. https://www.mmhla.org/articles/maternal-mental-health-conditions-and-statistics
- Uguz, F., & Ak, M. (2020). Cognitive-behavioral therapy in pregnant women with generalized anxiety disorder: a retrospective cohort study on therapeutic efficacy, gestational age and birth weight. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 43(1), 61–64. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0792
- Bright, K. S., Charrois, E. M., Mughal, M. K., Wajid, A., McNeil, D., Stuart, S., Hayden, K. A., & Kingston, D. (2020). Interpersonal Psychotherapy to Reduce Psychological Distress in Perinatal Women: A Systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228421
