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Mental health during and after pregnancy
If you are pregnant or have a newborn pēpi, you may experience low mood, anxiety or depression. This is common even if you have not had problems with your mental wellbeing before. There is help available to you and things you can do to support your own mental wellbeing.
Mental health problems during or after pregnancy
Being pregnant might be the first time you experience problems with your mental wellbeing. For others, a previous mental health condition might come back during pregnancy, or after your pēpi is born.
The most common mental health conditions during and after pregnancy are anxiety and depression. If you have had either of these conditions before, talk to your midwife or doctor about this early in your pregnancy.
You can talk to your midwife or doctor any time you are worried about your mental health. They will talk to you about treatment options.
If you are already on medication for a mental health condition, do not stop taking your medication without talking to your midwife or doctor first.
Risk of mental health problems
Some things increase the risk of becoming mentally unwell during pregnancy or when you are home with your new pēpi. These include:
- a personal or family history of mental illness during or after pregnancy
- difficulty getting pregnant
- finding it hard to adjust to being pregnant or being a mother
- a difficult pregnancy or birth experience
- current stressful life events.
Mental health conditions
Many women experience anxiety while they are pregnant or after their pēpi is born. It is understandable since this is a time of big changes in your life.
For some women, this anxiety can become overwhelming. Symptoms of severe anxiety include:
- being unable to relax
- difficulty concentrating
- sleep problems
- constant worrying.
Anxiety can also cause physical symptoms. These include:
- a racing heart
- feeling sick (nausea)
- shortness of breath
- headaches.
If you have anxiety there is help available and things you can do to take care of yourself.
Around 1 in 10 women experience depression when they are pregnant. This is called antenatal depression.
You can have depression even when you wanted to get pregnant. Symptoms of depression include:
- feeling so low or sad that you struggle to enjoy your pregnancy or look forward to the arrival of your pēpi
- feeling constantly tearful
- being irritable, short-tempered and angry
- feeling constantly tired and lacking energy
- having little or no interest in things you usually enjoy
- having difficulties with your sleep and appetite.
If you think you have depression, get help as early as possible. It is important for you and your pēpi.
Up to 1 in 5 women experience depression after their pēpi is born. This is called postnatal depression.
If you have a history of mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, you may become unwell during your pregnancy or after your pēpi is born. This means your healthcare provider will need to closely monitor your health for any changes during this time.
Rarely, new mothers may develop a condition called postnatal psychosis. This most often happens in the first month after giving birth. It can be hard to recognise, as someone who has it might not share their thoughts with others.
If you have postnatal psychosis, you might start:
- thinking very unusual thoughts
- believing weird things
- acting in strange ways.
Postnatal psychosis needs treatment as there is an increased risk of harm to the pēpi. This may include an admission to a psychiatric hospital.
Get advice from a medical professional if you have concerns about a new mother acting this way.
Postnatal psychosis — Mental Health Foundationexternal link
Your partner's mental health
Your partner's mental health can also be affected during your pregnancy and in the first year after your pēpi is born. If your partner is experiencing problems with their mental health, ask them to talk to their healthcare provider as soon as possible.
There are websites where partners can find out more about depression and get support.
Treatment for mental health conditions
If you are feeling anxious or depressed during pregnancy or after your pēpi is born, talk to your midwife or doctor about how you are feeling. They can talk to you about treatment options.
The sooner you get help, the sooner you will get better.
Medication
Many medications used to treat mental health conditions are safe, both during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. It could be more harmful to your pēpi to leave more serious depression and anxiety untreated. Your doctor can talk to you about the risks and benefits of medication.
If you are already taking medication and are thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor. You may need to change your medication or adjust the amount you are taking.
You can find advice about medication use in pregnancy on the UK site Bumps.
Best use of medicines in pregnancy — Bumpsexternal link
If your mental health condition is mild, you may want to try other therapies and avoid medications to reduce your baby's exposure to them. You will need to discuss this with your doctor.
Psychological treatment (talking therapy)
Talking therapy may help you, depending on your mental health condition.
Your healthcare provider can help you find a therapist or refer you for counselling. Some counsellors offer funded or subsidised treatment, but you may have to pay part or all of the cost.
There are websites to help you find a counsellor near you.
Family Services Directoryexternal link
Find a counsellor — Talking Worksexternal link
Online therapy and education
There are free online programmes available to improve and support your mental health.
The Just a Thought website offers free online courses for people with anxiety and depression. The courses take 6 to 8 weeks to complete and include a generalised anxiety and a depression course.
Mothers Helpers offers a free online or in-person 10 week programme called 'Out of the Fog'. It supports women anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand with antenatal or postnatal anxiety or depression.
Mothers Helpers – PNDA recovery courseexternal link
Beating the Blues is a free online 8 week programme based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is one of the most common treatments for anxiety and depression. You can be referred by your healthcare provider or you can self-register for the programme.
Self care for your mental health
There are ways you can help yourself cope with anxiety or depression when you are pregnant or when you are home with a new pēpi.
Learn about mental wellbeing
Find out more about:
- what causes mental health problems
- how it affects people
- the different treatments that are available.
Learning about mental health can help you feel more able to cope and less alone with the problem. These 2 resources include information, videos and useful links and resources.
Perinatal depression or anxiety — Healthifyexternal link
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Aotearoaexternal link
Stay healthy
It will help if you:
Learn to relax and reduce stress
Relaxing more and reducing stress will improve your mood and energy levels. Try relaxation techniques to relieve muscle tension and help control your breathing.
Relaxation techniquesexternal link
Mindfulness may also be helpful. It is a mental discipline that helps connect you to the here and now and regain control. The Smiling Mind app is a free mindfulness meditation app.
Smiling Mind app — Healthifyexternal link
Use helplines
There is always someone to talk to if you are struggling. These phone counselling helplines are free.
Ask for support
Let whānau and friends know how you are feeling and let them offer help. You can also search online or ask your midwife or Well Child nurse about any local mother's support groups.