Depression and anxiety in pregnancy
Pregnancy can be a stressful time and can lead to problems with your mental health.
Some people can get depression or anxiety for the first time during pregnancy.
If you’ve had depression or anxiety before getting pregnant, sometimes your symptoms may come back when you’re pregnant.
Find out more about anxiety in pregnancy and depression in pregnancy.
Things you can do to help with your mental health
Do
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talk about your feelings to a friend, family member, midwife or doctor
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try to make time to regularly do something you enjoy
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try to stay active as regular exercise in pregnancy helps boost mood and improves sleep
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sign up for antenatal classes – these are a good place to get information, gain confidence and meet other people in a similar situation to you
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be honest with your midwife, GP or any other healthcare professional caring for you about how you really feel – they’re there to support you
Non-urgent advice: Speak to your maternity unit or GP if:
- you’re worried about your mental health
Important
Get urgent help
Support is available if you or someone you know are having a mental health crisis or emergency, no matter what you're going through.
Mental health treatments in pregnancy
Depression and anxiety in pregnancy can often be helped with a talking therapy, like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Sometimes you may also be offered a medicine, like antidepressants.
If you need medicine, you’ll be offered the safest type for you and your baby at the lowest dose that helps.
Important
If you are already taking any prescribed medicine when you find out you are pregnant, then you should tell your doctor or specialist as soon as possible. Do not stop taking the medicine until you have spoken to them.
If you already have a mental health condition
You should be referred to your local perinatal mental health service if you’re pregnant and you have a long-term mental health condition, such as:
- bipolar disorder
- schizophrenia
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- an eating disorder, such an anorexia
These services provide specialist mental health support for people during and after their pregnancy.
You should be offered regular appointments with a midwife with experience in helping people with your type of condition.