Care for Your Mental Health Throughout Your Pregnancy

Health care is important before, during and after pregnancy. And that means caring for your mind as well as your body.

Mental health challenges can affect you throughout the perinatal period. This period begins before you get pregnant and extends through the pregnancy and up to one year after.

Before you get pregnant, you might need mental health support if you face issues getting pregnant and have the stress that comes with treatment for infertility. While you’re pregnant, you can face obstacles in caring for yourself and your family.

After the baby comes, you face a range of new feelings and challenges. Your spouse, partner or other family members may also be struggling with all the changes. Or if you’ve gone through a pregnancy loss, you may suffer from miscarriage depression.

Through it all — from prenatal through pregnancy and postpartum — it’s vital to reach out for help if you need it.

Depression Is Common

Depression is common during pregnancy. It affects about 1 in 10 people who become pregnant. When not treated, it puts a person at risk for early delivery, severe depression and suicide. Some people have depression and anxiety for the first time in their lives during pregnancy or after delivery, says the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 

Those who experience perinatal depression may struggle to care for themselves. They may not eat healthy foods or get enough rest. They may skip their prenatal checkups. People who took antidepressants before pregnancy may become depressed again if they stop taking them. Untreated depression during pregnancy also raises the risk of postpartum depression.

After your baby is born, there will be new challenges. You’ll face hormonal changes that can hit you hard. Then there are physical changes in your body, common new parent concerns and some sleepless nights.

Many people who recently gave birth experience postpartum depression,  They may feel anxious or sad often or all the time. They may have crying spells and not want to do activities. They may be upset or angry with their new baby or with family members. They may have trouble eating, sleeping and making decisions, and they may even wonder if they can care for their baby.

New parents need to know they are not alone, are not to blame and don’t need to continue to suffer, says Postpartum Support International,  which offers support and resources. Many parents go through some mild mood changes after the birth of a child. But between 15 and 20 percent of them have more severe signs of depression or anxiety.

Beyond Depression: Perinatal Mood Disorders

Perinatal mental health conditions are the No. 1 complication of childbearing, says Postpartum Support International. There are several conditions that can occur during the perinatal period. Depression is the best-known, but a person can also experience a range of other perinatal mood disorders, including:

• Anxiety: Symptoms of perinatal anxiety can include constant worry; a feeling of dread or doom; racing thoughts; disturbed sleep and appetite; anger, irritability or rage; and nervousness or trouble relaxing.
• OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder): This condition involves repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and strong urges to do certain things (compulsions). These often center around the health and safety of the pregnancy and/or baby.
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder): This is caused by a traumatic experience during pregnancy, delivery or after delivery.
• Bipolar mood disorders. Research shows that half of women with bipolar disorder are first diagnosed in the postpartum period. There are two parts of a bipolar mood disorder: the lows (depression) and the highs (mania).
• Psychosis: This is a serious perinatal mental health disorder that affects 1 to 2 of every 1,000 deliveries. Symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, mania, paranoia and confusion.

These conditions can affect not just the pregnant person but also other family members, including partners and spouses.

Pregnancy Loss: Miscarriage Depression
Suffering a pregnancy loss or trauma increases your chances of perinatal mood disorders (PMDs). This may include infertility, failed cycles, miscarriage, the loss of an infant, or a traumatic birth for either parent or child. And anyone who has experienced a combination of any of these situations is at an even higher risk for PMDs. 

Seek help if you have suffered a pregnancy loss or trauma of any kind. Talk with your doctor, OB-GYN, mental health provider or other specialist. They will help you get screened for mental health concerns and connect you with follow-up care. 

Get Help for PDMs

Perinatal mood disorders should be taken seriously. Symptoms can last for weeks or longer and get in the way of your ability to handle your day-to-day activities.

If you think you might have a perinatal mood disorder, reach out for help. For depression, the first step is usually a screening. Your doctor can screen you or recommend a mental health care provider. 

After your screening, your doctor will talk with you about next steps. You may need follow-up care with a mental health care provider. You may also have a physical exam to rule out other health issues.

The good news is perinatal mood disorders can be treated. The most common ways are with counseling, medicine, and social support and practical help, says Postpartum Support International. Your doctor may suggest that you see a mental health professional who can help you find the treatment that works best for you.

Getting mental health care can keep the symptoms from getting worse and help you recover.

Resources for Perinatal Mood Disorders
You can learn more about perinatal mood disorders and their symptoms, risk factors and treatment options at Postpartum Support International.  

Other resources include the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. It offers free, confidential mental health support for people and their families before, during and after pregnancy. Call or text 833-9-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262). English- and Spanish-speaking counselors are available 24/7. 

If you're having thoughts of harming yourself or suicide, please get help right away. You can call or text 988 or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline site at 988lifeline.org.  

Sources: Depression During Pregnancy,  American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2024; Postpartum Depression,  American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2024; Help for Perinatal Individuals,  Postpartum Support International; Depression Screening,  U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2022; 988 Lifeline,  988 Lifeline; Perinatal Mental Health: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment,  Postpartum Support International; Perinatal Depression,  National Institute of Mental Health, 2023