You and your partner are in a taxi on the way to a party. But it’s not just any party, it’s a party that’s been arranged specifically for you. A party filled with family, friends, and co-workers, all gathering together to celebrate the upcoming birth of your first child.

You turn and look at your partner, they smile at you and squeeze your hand. And all you can think to yourself is - Everything is as it’s supposed to be, but I’m not feeling happy. I should be on top of the world, but I just want to go home.

Pregnancy can be a very confusing time for many women. While some will feel very happy and excited, it’s just as common for others to have mixed or even negative feelings about their pregnancy. If you feel this way, it’s important you understand that what you’re feeling happens to a lot of people, and that you’re not alone.

So, let’s talk about pregnancy and mental health. We’re going to run through how pregnancy can affect your mind, what treatment is available to you if you need it, and who you can go to for support.

How can pregnancy affect my mental health?

Pregnancy can affect a woman’s mental health in many ways, and as many as 1 in 5 women experience mental health issues during pregnancy or after birth. Although many will feel happy and excited, others could feel stressed and anxious at times, and can even experience depression and anxiety. In fact, these are the most common mental health problems in pregnancy, with 10 to 15 out of every 100 pregnant women being affected by these issues.

Some women find that they develop mental health problems like this for the first time during their pregnancy, or after birth. There are a lot of factors that determine how your mental health could be affected during these periods. For example:

How you feel about your pregnancy.

Upsetting memories about difficulties in your own childhood.

Recent events in your life such as a death or the end of a relationship.

The type of mental illness you might have already.

Stopping medication for a mental health problem.

When a woman is pregnant, it is also common for them to feel concerned about:

Whether they will be a good parent.

The changes in their relationships.

Whether there will be problems with the pregnancy or the baby.

Having a lack of support and being alone.

The changes in their role (such as becoming a mother, and stopping work).

Childbirth.

Now that you know how your pregnancy could potentially affect your mental health, let’s talk about what treatment is available for these types of problems during pregnancy.

What treatment is available for mental health problems during pregnancy?

Psychological therapies

Talking treatments are considered to be very helpful for mental health issues during pregnancy. This can be used as an alternative to medication, while some opt for both.

Just talking about your emotions and worries with an impartial listener can bring you tremendous relief. By working through your problems constructively, psychological therapy can help to identify the root of your feelings, thereby making the first step towards transformation.

Lifestyle changes

Sometimes, making a small change or two to your daily routine can be very healing for the mind during a period of such rapid physical and emotional change. Here are some activities and habits that can have mental health benefits:

Exercise. Even if it’s just a light morning stretch or a slow stroll, getting exercise each day is well-known to be beneficial for emotional health.

Yoga or meditation. These practices, even if only for 10 minutes, are great for bringing the mind to a state of calm. They both involve mindful breathing, which cultivates concentration and stability.

Slowing down. We know that this time of your life can be a very busy one - the list of tasks can seem endless! However, finding a few minutes each day to simply drink tea or coffee, have a warm bath, or to read on the sofa, are great for bringing a sense of calm into your life.

Make time for conversations. Chatting with your partner, a family member, or a friend can be a great way to take your mind off the pregnancy, or alternatively to discuss your anxieties and emotions. Whatever you talk about, just spending time with loved ones is in itself a great way to brighten your mood!

Medication

If you are considering continuing, changing, starting or stopping medication for a mental health problem during your pregnancy, it is imperative that you talk this through at length with your doctor. You need to consider the following:

How unwell you have been in the past.

How fast you become unwell when you stop taking medication.

If you have taken medication, which ones helped you the most? Which ones gave you side effects?

How the medication might affect your baby.

Now, let’s dive into who can help and support you during your pregnancy.

Will anyone be able to help or support me during pregnancy?

If you are experiencing mental health problems during your pregnancy, it’s really important you reach out to others for support.

Whoever you choose to reach out to, it’s vital that you openly communicate how you are feeling, so they can do their best to be there for you. Remember - a problem shared can be a problem halved.

You can also find other sources of support through your midwife and health visitor. They should be able to advise you on what helpful organisations are available in your area.

How can I take care of my mental health during pregnancy?

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