How you might be feeling
There are lots of different feelings that come during pregnancy and parenthood. Some of the feelings you might be experiencing include:
- Feeling sadness and low in mood
- Lack of enjoyment and loss of interest in the world
- Experiencing difficulties bonding with the baby
- Feeling nervous, anxious and/or on edge
- Feeling worried or fearful
Within the first two weeks of giving birth, it is very common to experience ‘baby blues’ where you may feel tearful, anxious or down. This is caused by a shift in hormones. These feelings will likely pass after a few weeks, but if you’re still struggling, this could be a sign of a mental health difficulty.
Top tips
You can find lots of information about pregnancy and new parenthood on this website.
Family Assist also has lots of information to help you learn about mental health during, and after, your pregnancy. There is also information and advice for birthing parents.
You can learn about the symptoms and find tips and advice to stay well.
When to get help
If you’re struggling to cope and the things you’re trying yourself are not helping, there’s lots of options for support – including both online and in person.
You can contact your midwife (during pregnancy), your health visitor (following birth) or your GP practice. They will be able to provide support and refer you to other services if needed.
If you would prefer, you can contact Talking Therapies or PositiveMinds for support.
If you’re not sure where to get support, call the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub on 0300 123 6621 (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm) to talk to the team.
