Symptoms of anxiety in pregnancy
The main symptom of anxiety in pregnancy (also called perinatal anxiety) is feelings of stress or worry that affect your daily life and are difficult to control.
You might:
- feel tense all the time and unable to relax
- worry about your pregnancy all the time
- find it hard to concentrate
- have difficulty sleeping because you cannot stop worrying about things
- feel that other people are judging you
- have a more noticeable or unusual heartbeat (palpitations)
- feel faint or dizzy
- grind your teeth – this can happen in your sleep
Sometimes anxiety in pregnancy can also cause panic attacks, where you get sudden and intense feelings of anxiety and fear.
Things you can try to help with anxiety in pregnancy
Do
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try breathing exercises and meditation to help you relax
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exercise regularly during your pregnancy - activities such as walking, swimming and yoga can reduce anxiety and stress and are safe to do
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try talking about your feelings to a friend or family member - antenatal groups are also a good place to speak to others who may have similar feelings
Non-urgent advice: See a GP or midwife if:
- you’re pregnant and you feel anxious all the time
What happens when you talk to a GP or midwife
If you see a GP or midwife because you are feeling anxious during your pregnancy they will ask you about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life.
They'll also ask you if you've had problems with anxiety before.
Any questions you will be asked are only to make sure you get the help you need. Anxiety in pregnancy is a common condition that doctors and midwives are used to treating, so you are not going to be judged.
Treatment for anxiety in pregnancy
Anxiety in pregnancy is treated with a type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
CBT can be done in person, online, or on the phone.
If your symptoms are causing you a great deal of distress, you may be referred to a specialist to discuss other treatment options.
The specialist will be able to discuss the safest treatment options with you, including medicines and any risks.
If you were already taking medicine for anxiety before you got pregnant, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. You may be offered different medicines, or may be advised to keep taking your usual ones.
They may suggest gradually stopping your medicine and trying CBT instead or trying both treatments together.
Help and support for anxiety in pregnancy
If you have anxiety in pregnancy, you can get support from your GP and midwife. They may be able to give you details of local support services.
There are also national pregnancy and mental health charities, like Tommy's and Mind, that offer more information on anxiety in pregnancy: