Having a baby is a big life event. It’s natural to have a range of emotions. But if these feelings start to seriously affect your life, you might be experiencing a perinatal mental health problem.
If you’re struggling in pregnancy, or after having a new baby – we’re here for you.
There are some specific conditions which can develop during pregnancy, or in the year having a new baby. These are sometimes called postnatal, antenatal or perinatal mental health problems.
So doctors and midwives might talk about perinatal mental health, and perinatal care.
It can be hard to tell if how you’re feeling is a problem. Especially if you’re a first-time parent, or you’ve not had mental health problems before. It’s common to feel unsure about asking for help.
Our resources explain signs to look out for, and treatments that can help.
Developing depression after having a baby, or while pregnant, is more common than many people realise. But with the right support and treatment, you can get better.
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The ‘baby blues’ is a brief period of low mood, feeling emotional and tearful around 3 to 10 days after birth.
You’re likely to be coping with lots of new demands and getting little sleep. It’s natural to feel emotional and overwhelmed. This feeling usually only lasts for a few days and is generally manageable.
Postnatal depression (PND) is a much deeper and longer-term depression. This usually develops within 6 weeks after birth. It can be gradual or sudden. And it can range from being mild to very severe. So it’s important to know the signs.
Signs that you may have postnatal or antenatal depression include feeling:
You may also find that you:
Some of these experiences are common during pregnancy and after becoming a parent. But you can still mention them to your doctor if you’re worried that it’s a sign of something more serious.
If you’re a new or expectant parent it can be difficult to share what you’re struggling with. You might feel:
But having mental health problems is not your fault. You can ask for help – and treatment is available.
If you’re worried, talk to your GP, midwife or health visitor as soon as possible. Together you can make a decision about what’s best for you.
The most common treatment options are therapy and antidepressant medication.
Our self-care tips for pregnancy and after having a baby also has some tips for helping yourself.
Your doctor may offer you some therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This is a short-term therapy recommended to treat depression. Mind has more information on therapy and counselling, including finding a therapist.
If there are long waiting lists for talking therapies in your area, you can also try an alternative to therapy. These can help you manage your mental health while you’re on the waiting list.
Your doctor might offer to prescribe you some antidepressant medication.
This is more likely if:
If you have concerns about taking medication, you can get advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Mind also have information about taking antidepressants while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Before taking any medication it’s important to understand the risks and benefits, so you can make an informed choice.
Some people find that taking medication helps them feel well enough to get the most out of talking to a therapist. And if you’re on a therapy waiting list, medication could help while you wait.
But other people find medication or talking therapy are more helpful on their own.
If your symptoms haven’t improved with either therapy or medication alone, your doctor may suggest that you try both together.
If the treatment you’ve got in place isn’t working, and you are severely unwell – talk to your doctor again. These are some options to consider.
You may be referred to a specialist community perinatal mental health team. This is for people with severe postnatal depression where treatment isn’t helping.
If you’re referred to this team, you may be offered additional treatments. This may include more intense CBT, different talking therapies, and other types of medication.
If you have very severe depression which doesn’t respond to other treatments, your doctor may suggest electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
This isn’t suggested often. But it’s more likely if:
ECT can work very quickly, so doctors may advise that you have it shortly after giving birth. This is to help you care for and bond with your baby as soon as possible. ECT can be used during pregnancy, but may come with higher risks.
Read this information about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to learn more.
Perinatal anxiety is anxiety that you experience before or after giving birth.
If it’s while you’re pregnant, this is antenatal or prenatal anxiety. If it’s in the year after giving birth, this is postnatal or postpartum anxiety. Some people may experience both.
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If you experience anxiety specifically about childbirth, this is called ‘tokophobia’. The charity Tommy’s has information about tokophobia.
You may worry about how you’ll cope with becoming a parent. Or you may have worries about your baby’s health and if you’re doing the right things. But if these worries start to have an effect on your day-to-day life, it’s important to seek help.
If you’re experiencing perinatal anxiety, you may have these symptoms in your body:
And perinatal anxiety may also make you:
Lots of people are aware that you can become depressed after having a baby. But many parents also experience anxiety during pregnancy and after giving birth. It’s common to experience depression and anxiety together.
See our page on postnatal and antenatal depression for more information about depression around childbirth.
If you’re worried that you’re experiencing perinatal anxiety, talk to your GP or health visitor. Your doctor should discuss treatment options with you, so you can make a decision together about what’s best for you.
These self-care tips for pregnancy and after having a baby also has some tips for helping yourself.
Your doctor is most likely to offer you a therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Your local mental health services may also run specific counselling or group programmes for anxiety. You can speak to your GP to find out what’s available.
If there are long waiting lists for talking therapies in your area, your doctor may recommend that you try an alternative to therapy. These can help you manage your mental health while you’re on the waiting list.
Your doctor could give you access to online CBT programmes to try yourself. Or they may prescribe self-help books to help you learn to manage your anxiety.
If you were already taking medication for an anxiety disorder before pregnancy, your doctor may talk to you about your options. This might be to continue with your medication. Or to stop and change to a talking therapy, such as CBT.
If you have any concerns about taking medication, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Mind has information about taking antidepressants while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Your doctor may offer you a combination of talking therapy and medication. Some people find that taking medication alongside having talking therapy can help them get the most out of their therapy. But others find medication or talking therapy are more helpful on their own.
If you were already taking medication for an anxiety disorder before pregnancy, your doctor may suggest that you combine this with a talking therapy, such as CBT. Your doctor may also suggest doing both if symptoms haven’t improved with either talking therapy or medication.
See our page on treatments for anxiety for more information.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. Perinatal OCD is when you experience OCD during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth.
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OCD has two main parts: obsessions and compulsions.
It’s normal to worry about your baby’s wellbeing. And to want to protect your baby while you’re pregnant and after giving birth.
But if you start to experience obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours that affect your daily life and wellbeing, you may be experiencing perinatal OCD. The obsessions and compulsions are likely to relate to feelings about being a parent and your baby.
These include:
These thoughts can be very upsetting and frightening. But they’re not your fault. Having an intrusive thought doesn’t mean that you want to act on it, or that you will act on it.
These include:
It can be hard to open up and talk to someone about your obsessions or compulsions. But there are treatments and support options which may help
If you’re worried that you’re experiencing perinatal OCD, talk to your GP or health visitor. Your doctor should discuss treatment options with you, so you can make a decision together about the best treatment for you.
See these pages on seeking help for a mental health problem for more tips, including how to speak to your doctor.
Our self-care tips for pregnancy and after having a baby also has some tips for helping yourself.
CBT with ERP is the most recommended talking treatment for OCD. It combines two types of therapy:
ERP is a talking therapy that helps you understand how your OCD works and what you need to do to overcome it. Your therapist will help you confront your obsessions and learn how to resist the urge to carry out compulsions.
If there are long waiting lists for talking therapy in your area, your doctor may recommend that you explore an alternative to therapy. These can help you manage your mental health while you’re on the waiting list.
Your doctor may also offer you medication to treat anxiety, a common symptom of OCD. If you have any concerns about taking medication, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Mind has information about taking antidepressants while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Some people find that taking medication alongside having talking therapy can help them get the most out of their therapy. But others find medication or talking therapy are more helpful on their own.
If you’re already taking medication for an anxiety disorder before pregnancy, your doctor may suggest that you combine medication with a talking therapy such as CBT. Your doctor may also offer this if symptoms haven’t improved with talking therapy or medication.
See our page on treatments for OCD for more information.
Birth trauma happens when we go through a frightening, stressful or distressing event which is related to giving birth. It can develop into postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a type of anxiety disorder.
Witnessing traumatic events can also lead to symptoms of PTSD, so partners can experience it too.
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These are some of the common signs and symptoms of postnatal PTSD.
You might experience:
You might:
You might:
You might:
Experiencing or witnessing traumatic events during or after childbirth can cause postnatal PTSD. Examples might include:
Some people feel that having a new baby makes up for any traumatic experiences. Or they may think that enjoying being a new parent means they will soon forget about trauma.
But these traumatic experiences can have a negative effect on your relationship with your baby. They can also negatively affect your relationships with the people around you and how you feel about yourself.
You may feel disappointed that childbirth wasn’t the experience you were hoping for. Or you might feel angry with the medical staff if you felt that the delivery wasn’t handled well. Or if you hadn’t received as much support as you’d hoped for.
Some parents talk about feeling a lack of control or involvement during childbirth. This can contribute to traumatising feelings.
Your experiences may also make you feel anxious about having another baby in future. You may worry you’ll go through a similar experience during birth.
If you’re worried about the effects of birth trauma or postnatal PTSD, talk to your GP or health visitor. Your doctor should discuss treatment options with you, so you can make a decision together about what’s best for you.
See these pages on seeking help for a mental health problem for more tips, including how to speak to your doctor.
Our self-care tips for pregnancy and after having a baby also has some tips for helping yourself.
The main treatments for PTSD are specific types of talking therapy:
Medication is not normally offered to treat PTSD itself. But there are a few related reasons why your doctor may offer you medication:
See our page on treatments for PTSD for more information.
Postpartum psychosis is a serious but rare mental health problem. It can develop after you give birth. It’s sometimes called puerperal or postnatal psychosis.
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Postpartum psychosis can be an overwhelming and frightening experience. But with the right support, most people fully recover. It’s important to seek help as soon as possible if you experience symptoms.
The symptoms of postpartum psychosis usually start quite suddenly, within a few weeks after you give birth.
If you experience postpartum psychosis, you’re likely to have a mix of psychosis, depression and mania.
This means you might feel:
You may also feel a mixture of moods at once. This can be scary to experience.
And your behaviour might include:
Delusions and hallucinations are aspects of psychosis which you may experience. Delusions are strong beliefs that other people don’t share. For example, you might think that:
Some delusions can be very frightening and can make you feel unsafe. For example, you may believe that someone is trying to control you or kill you. These sorts of delusions are often called paranoid thinking or paranoid delusions. See this information on delusions and paranoia to find out more.
Hallucinations are when you experience things that others around you don’t. For example, hearing voices, seeing visual hallucinations and other unexplained sensations. See this information on hallucinations and hearing voices to find out more.
Living through postpartum psychosis
Watch Kathryn talk about her experience of postpartum psychosis. Our thanks to Mind for allowing us to share this video.
There’s no clear evidence on what causes postpartum psychosis. You can develop it even if you have no history of mental health problems. But you may be more likely to develop it if you have:
If you’re at a higher risk of developing postpartum psychosis and are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, it’s important to talk to your doctor or midwife. You should do this even if you currently feel well. They can help you to plan ahead for if you do become unwell.
You could also show our information to friends or family members, so they can look out for any symptoms.
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) has a series of guides about postpartum psychosis. This includes a guide to planning a pregnancy if you’re at high risk of developing postpartum psychosis.
If you have symptoms of postpartum psychosis, you may not recognise that you’re unwell at first.
But if you or someone close to you is worried that you’re experiencing postpartum psychosis, speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor straight away.
Postpartum psychosis is a mental health emergency and you should be seen urgently. You may be referred to a specialist perinatal mental health service for immediate assessment and support.
There are various treatments that you may be offered for postpartum psychosis. Your doctor should discuss these options with you, so you can make a decision together about the best treatment for you.
In some circumstances, your doctor may decide that treating you in hospital is the best way to get the help you need. If it’s possible, you might be admitted to a mother and baby unit (MBU). You can stay there with your baby while getting treatment. See this page on perinatal mental health support and services for more information about MBUs.
Your doctor is most likely to offer you an antipsychotic drug to manage your mood and psychotic symptoms quickly. They may also offer you an antidepressant.
See Mind’s pages on medication for more information.
If you have psychosis and become pregnant, you may be at risk of developing psychosis symptoms again during your pregnancy. You may be offered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or family intervention to help prevent these symptoms.
Family intervention is a service that helps family members talk to each other about what helps, solve problems and plan for a crisis. Your GP will be able to find out if this is available in your area.
Some mental health problems have clear triggers in pregnancy or after a new baby. For others it may be less obvious. There’s often a combination of factors.
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Don’t worry if you aren’t sure exactly why you’re not feeling ok. Sometimes problems can develop suddenly with no obvious reason. We all deserve understanding and support.
Your experience of mental health will be personal to you. As will your experience of being pregnant and having a baby.
But if you’ve had mental health problems in the past, being pregnant or having a baby can increase the risk of those problems happening again. This includes any previous perinatal mental health problems.
It’s important to understand what might trigger another episode. And what support you may need during this time. You can speak to your doctor about this.
Some people suggest that perinatal mental health problems have a biological cause. This includes changes in your body during and after pregnancy, such as changes to your hormones.
Some studies suggest that changes to your hormones during pregnancy and after giving birth can cause differences in your mood. But not everyone who gets pregnant and experiences these changes goes on to develop a perinatal mental health problem.
So changes in hormones are unlikely to be the only cause.
Having a baby is a major life event. It can be stressful, exhausting and overwhelming. If you don’t have people around to help, this could affect how well you cope. It may mean that you’re more likely to develop a mental health problem.
The charity Gingerbread gives advice and practical support to single parent families. Home-Start can pair you with a volunteer who can visit to offer practical and emotional support.
Our page of useful contacts has details of other organisations who can help you find support.
Some groups can face stigma and discrimination which can affect our mental health. We have information that may help if you experience stigma or discrimination based on your sexual or gender identity. Or on your race or ethnicity.
Some of us have difficult experiences in our childhood, such as:
Research shows that these experiences could make you more vulnerable to perinatal mental health problems later in life. These problems include depression and anxiety.
Childhood experiences can also have a big effect on how you feel about becoming a parent. For example, if your own parents didn’t have good parenting skills, you may find it hard to adapt to your new role as a parent.
You might feel unsure of how to interpret your baby’s needs. You may even fear that you’re not going to be there for them, because you aren’t sure how to take care of them.
For some people, these experiences can also make them more determined to be a better parent. However you feel, getting the right support can help. NAPAC supports anyone who’s experienced abuse in childhood. This includes sexual, physical or emotional abuse, and neglect.
Experiencing abuse can sometimes cause:
So if you’ve experienced abuse, you may be more likely to develop perinatal mental health problems.
Types of abuse include:
Experiencing abuse could also affect how you feel about becoming a parent. For example, if you experienced abuse while growing up, you may now struggle to trust or relate to other people. This may mean that you find it difficult to relate to your baby, or bond with them.
You might also have fears of abandonment related to abuse or trauma. This could make you worry about leaving your baby, or your baby coming to harm.
See these pages on abuse for details of organisations who support people with experience of abuse.
If you have low self-esteem, you may doubt your ability to cope as a parent. For example, when your baby cries you may think it’s because of something you’ve done wrong. Or because of something important you haven’t done.
The way you think about yourself can make you more likely to develop perinatal mental health problems. For example, depression and anxiety.
Our pages on self-esteem have more information. This includes ways to improve your self-esteem. Some of these tips might feel difficult while you’re pregnant or have a new baby. But even small changes can make a big difference to how you feel.
It can be difficult for anyone to deal with stressful living conditions. If you’re pregnant or recently had a baby, this may feel even harder. These conditions can make you more likely to develop a perinatal mental health problem.
For example, you may be struggling with:
These problems can feel even more difficult if you live alone. Or if you have little or no support from other people.
If you’re living in these conditions, you may worry that you’re unable to provide your baby with everything that they need. Or you might feel like you’re failing your baby. See Mind’s pages on housing and mental health and money and mental health for ways to find support.
Major life events can increase the level of stress in your life. Examples of major life events include:
If you experience these while you’re pregnant or after having a baby, you may be more likely to develop a perinatal mental health problem.
Having a baby is also a major life event. It’s likely to involve many changes in your life. You may leave your job or change your working hours. This can have a big impact on your finances.
Or you may need to give up or reduce social activities, and find it difficult to spend time with friends. This can make you feel lonely, which could contribute to mental health problems.
Mind’s information on bereavement, money and mental health and loneliness may help.
Some babies become unwell after birth or are born early, and have to spend more time in hospital. This may be in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). For many parents, this can come as a shock.
Having a baby on a neonatal unit can have a big impact on your mental health. It can be very distressing and can lead to symptoms of anxiety and postnatal PTSD, however long your baby is in hospital.
You may feel powerless and guilty about not being able to do more to help. You may have to spend time away from your baby. And you’re likely to be experiencing lots of different emotions at once, which can be challenging to manage. Or you may be grieving for what you imagined your birth or the first few days with your baby would be like.
These are all very common feelings and experiences when having a baby in neonatal care. But they can develop into a mental health problem.
The charity Bliss has more information for parents who have a baby in neonatal care.
Experiencing infant loss can be extremely traumatic and can have a big effect on your mental health. This includes losing your baby through miscarriage, still birth or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
It’s important to remember that you don’t have to cope alone. There is support out there.
You can get more information and support from these organisations:
Or see these pages on bereavement to find support for coping with your loss.
If you’re the partner of someone who’s pregnant or recently gave birth, you might feel the focus should be on their health.
But partners can also develop mental health problems around this time. There are ways to get help.
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There are many reasons why you might experience mental health problems after your partner has had a baby.
Some partners talk about these challenges affecting their mental health:
Or you might find that there’s no obvious cause.
Your partner may also experience mental health problems during pregnancy or after giving birth. These could have an impact on your mental health.
Some doctors might say you’re experiencing postnatal or paternal mental health problems. This is because your mental health has been affected by becoming a parent. But others might say the term ‘postnatal’ only applies to someone who gave birth.
No matter how you label your mental health problems as a partner, you’re not alone – and you deserve support.
Sometimes you may feel like any support is directed to your partner, and not you. So it can be easy to ignore your own needs.
This can make it feel hard to reach out for help. And could make you feel like you just need to get on with things.
But your mental health is important too. You deserve understanding and support. And there are ways to get help.
You can always talk to your GP about your mental health. This includes when your partner is pregnant or after your baby is born. Your health visitor is also there for you and your partner.
Your doctor can refer you to local support services or talking therapies. They could also prescribe you medication for your mental health.
It might also help to talk to other partners who know what you’re going through. Some NHS trusts have local support groups you can join. Other organisations have forums or social media groups where you can meet and share with others.
See our useful contacts page for organisations who can support partners. And visit these pages on seeking help for a mental health problem for more information about getting support.
There are some things you can do to look after your own mental health if you feel like you’re struggling. This page on self-care for pregnancy and after having a baby has some ideas that may help.
Mind has an A-Z of mental health, which lists mental health problems that you may experience – as well as ways to get treatment and support, and how to care for yourself.
If you’re a new or expectant parent it can be difficult to share how you’re feeling. But having mental health problems is not your fault. And help is available.
We have info on how you can help yourself, and how others can help you:
The following pages have information that might help: (Menu boxes with links??)
Shame and anxiety as a parent
Our thanks to Mind for allowing us to share this video.
Postnatal mental health problems
Our thanks to Mind for allowing us to share this video.
Becoming a new parent can be a very stressful experience. Finding ways to look after yourself, that fit around your responsibilities and needs, can help your mental health.
On this page:
Try to take things slowly and do what you feel you can manage. If you don’t feel ready to try these tips, you can always come back to them later.
Talking to someone about how we’re feeling can help. It can feel uncomfortable to talk about something so personal. But explaining how your feelings are affecting your life may help others to understand. And they may be able to help.
This information about seeking help for a mental health problem has tips for talking about your mental health.
It can be reassuring to talk to other new parents about how you’re feeling. You may find that they’ve had similar feelings. Discussing your mental health with people who’ve had similar experiences is often called peer support.
Research shows that peer support can lower feelings of depression and anxiety in new parents. It can also give you a chance to share skills. And get some emotional and practical support. This could help you feel more confident as a new parent.
You might find that socialising with other parents makes you feel more anxious or stressed. It’s important to only do these things if you want to and if you feel ready to.
These are some ideas you could try.
If you’re feeling nervous about being around new people, try doing something based around an activity. This might make it easier to start talking to other parents. For example, you could try doing music or yoga. The National Childbirth Trust has some more information about finding a local parent and baby group near you.
There are also antenatal groups for parents who are expecting babies. You can ask your midwife or doctor for more information about these.
But don’t feel under pressure to go to lots of groups. All parents are different, so do what works for you.
If you’re interested in going to a group but are feeling nervous, contact the class provider in advance. That way you know what to expect. You can take someone with you for support too.
There are lots of online communities where you can share your experiences of being a parent and living with a mental health problem.
Websites like Netmums have forums where you can talk to other parents. You could also try Side by Side, Mind’s online peer support community.
These pages on looking after your mental health online have tips on getting a good online/offline balance and staying safe.
There are many organisations that have information and opportunities to find peer support:
See our useful contacts page for other organisations that can help. Or you can contact your local Mind to see if they offer any peer support groups or other support in your area.
Coping with household tasks while pregnant or looking after a baby can be tough for anyone. But it can feel even harder if you’re living with perinatal mental health problems.
Finding ways to manage day-to-day tasks can help take the pressure off. It can also make you feel more able to cope with the symptoms of your mental health problem.
These are some ideas which may help.
If there are people who want to give you practical help, try to accept it. Think about what would be most helpful to you. For example, help with shopping, cooking meals or cleaning.
When you’re feeling well and have more energy, it can help to plan ahead for times when you don’t feel well. You could batch-cook meals in advance and freeze them. Then you have access to fast and healthy meals when you’re feeling unwell.
You could also use a meal subscription service, if you can afford it. Or get food shopping delivered to your home.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed while you’re pregnant or when you’re looking after a baby.
Try setting yourself 20 minutes to do as much of a task as you can. For example, throwing things in the washing machine or sorting through paperwork. Or you could write one thing down every day that you would like to achieve.
This can make tasks feel more manageable. It can help you take advantage of getting a little bit done when you feel able.
Be kind to yourself if you don’t do something as you planned to. Or if you find yourself feeling worse again. Everyone has their own response and it’s important to take things at your own pace.
It might feel hard to find time to think about yourself while pregnant or looking after a baby. Making small changes can help you look after your mental health.
These are some ways to help take care of yourself.
Try to set boundaries with those close to you. This can help avoid things becoming too overwhelming.
For example, if people would like to visit, you could tell them before that you only feel up to them staying for an hour or two. Or that you’d prefer for them not to touch or hold your baby, if this is something you’re worried about. People will understand and want to support you.
Try keeping a diary of your moods and what’s going on in your life. You don’t have to write down very much. You could also try recording it. This might help you recognise patterns or notice what affects your mental health.
You might find that certain experiences or people trigger flashbacks or other difficult feelings.
It might help you notice what’s happening before you become more unwell. And to know when to ask for support.
It can be easy to compare yourself to other parents and their achievements. On social media, we often only see positive images of parenthood. This can make us feel worse.
Try to remember that you don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes. If you can, try to concentrate on yourself and your own needs.
Physical activity can boost your mood. It can also distract you from any thoughts making you anxious. And it can help you feel like you’re getting to do some things for yourself. Getting active could include going for a walk with the pram, dancing to music at home or doing gentle yoga.
But remember that our energy levels will vary on different days. It’s fine to slow down or take a break.
See these pages on physical activity and mental health for more tips.
You might feel like you have no time for yourself. Or that all you do is sit around at home.
Try to take a bit of time to do something that makes you feel good, even if it’s a few minutes. And think about what really helps you unwind, whether it’s reading a book, watching TV or doing crafts.
If you’re experiencing a mental health problem in pregnancy or after having a baby – you aren’t alone. Services and organisations exist to support you.
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You can always talk to your doctor about your mental health. They can discuss your options for treatment and support, refer you to services and prescribe medication.
You’re likely to be in contact with several health professionals while you’re pregnant. They should ask you about your mental health and how you’re feeling during pregnancy. If they don’t ask, you can always bring up any concerns you have.
You might feel worried that they will judge you if you share your true feelings. But healthcare professionals understand that mental health problems are common. And they are there to help you.
The NHS website has information about the health professionals who may support you during pregnancy.
The NHS’s Start4Life website also has information about pregnancy and becoming a new parent.
Your health visitor can offer support for looking after your baby and managing your mental health. You can also talk to them about anything you’re worried about. This includes any difficult feelings or thoughts you have.
They can let you know about other services in your area. Or they might suggest that you speak to your doctor.
There are specialist perinatal mental health services in some parts of the country. They include teams of specialist nurses and doctors, as well as specialist hospital wards.
The perinatal mental health team can:
They’re for people who are pregnant or have recently given birth. And who have a mental health problem, or are at risk of one.
Unfortunately these services aren’t available in all areas of England. They can be difficult to access, or there may be long waiting times.
You’re more likely to be referred if you’ve had serious mental health problems in the past. For example bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or experience of psychosis.
Ask your GP or midwife about services in your area.
If you have a diagnosed mental health problem, you may already be in contact with your local CMHT or crisis team. They may be able to support you if there aren’t any specialist perinatal mental health services near you.
See this information on CMHTs and crisis teams to find out more.
Mother and baby units (MBUs) are specialist psychiatric wards in hospitals. They can support people showing symptoms of serious mental health problems.
You might be admitted to an MBU:
The MBU can offer:
Unfortunately there are very few MBUs around the country. And there are a limited number of places in each MBU.
The Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) website has a map showing the locations of MBUs around the UK.
If you can’t go to an MBU, you might be admitted to a regular psychiatric ward until an MBU is available. If this happens, you’re unlikely to be able to keep your baby with you. If you have to be away from your baby while you’re being treated, it should only be for as long as is needed to keep you safe.
See Mind’s page on treatment in hospital for more information.
There are several voluntary organisations and charities that support families and new parents:
See our useful contacts page for details of other organisations who may be able to help. This includes organisations who can help if you have a specific mental health diagnosis.
The symptoms of perinatal mental health problems can change a lot from day to day. It might be hard for health professionals, like your doctor or midwife, to understand what you’re experiencing and offer the right support.
If you don’t feel like you’re getting the support you need, you can talk to a health professional.
You may have to ask a few times to get the support you need. This can be difficult when you’re struggling with your mental health.
You can ask someone you trust to support you to seek help. Or you might want the support of an advocate.
It can be hard if someone close to you has mental health problems while they’re pregnant, or after they give birth. There are things you can do to support them.
If your partner is pregnant or recently gave birth and you’re worried about your own mental health, see our page on Can fathers and partners get postnatal depression?
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It might feel upsetting if someone close to you is experiencing perinatal mental health problems. But try not to blame them for how they feel.
Some people who experience perinatal mental health problems might struggle to ask for help. This may be out of fear that they’ll be judged as a bad parent. Or that their baby will be taken away from them. Other parents may want support, but not know exactly what they need.
Having some company can help them feel less isolated. This can be while they get on with daily tasks and look after their baby.
Try to understand if they don’t feel up to seeing or being around people at the moment. Just offering can sometimes be enough.
If someone is struggling with their mental health, it can make a big difference to know you’re thinking of them. And that you want to spend time together.
For example, send a quick text if you don’t think they feel up to a phone call. Or send a voice note on your phone that they can listen to when they’re ready.
Becoming a parent can make some people feel like they’re losing touch with their previous identity. See if you can find things to do together that you did before they became a parent.
Or you could offer to look after the baby while they do something by themselves. For example, having a relaxing bath, watching a TV show they like, or getting some rest.
This can help if they feel nervous about going to a group on their own. You can start small. Offer to observe a class with them at first. Or go to talk to the instructor with them, so they have an idea of what to expect.
They might feel guilty if they don’t have lots of time to spend with other people. Or if they’re not feeling well enough to reply to messages.
You could let them know that they only need to see or respond to you when they feel able. Or you can send them a message to tell them that you’re thinking of them. And let them know they don’t need to send a response.
If you’re worried about how to talk about their mental health, try reading the rest of our perinatal mental health pages to learn more. It might make it easier to talk about, especially if they’re finding it hard to open up.
When someone we care about is struggling, it’s natural to want to solve things for them. But being a parent comes with a lot of pressure.
Try to avoid telling them what you would do or what they should do. Just being there can be enough.
Try to keep the focus on them. Don’t compare situations to other parents, or your own experiences and feelings. It’s important that they can focus on their own needs.
If they open up about distressing thoughts or behave out of character, try not to judge them. It’s likely to be very difficult for them to talk about these sorts of thoughts. They may already feel judgemental of themselves. Try to listen, reassure them and offer support where possible.
The best way to find out what they need is to ask them. But if they feel very low, they might find it difficult to know what they need.
These are some things you could offer:
You could offer to sit in the waiting room with them or go to the appointment. Or you could offer to look after their baby or older children while they go to appointments.
If they struggle to arrange appointments, you could help with this. You could also encourage them to have a conversation with their health visitor. And you could help them plan what they’d like to talk about. If you go with them, you could take notes to help them to remember the conversation.
See these pages on helping someone else seek help for tips on how to help with doctor’s appointments.
This could include peer support groups or parenting groups. See our page on support and services for more information.
Many of us who care for children may worry about our mental health. We may worry about how it’ll impact our children or how we can look after them. But with the right support and resources, it’s possible to care for children while managing your mental health problem.
This page covers:
All parents face challenges. Having children can be very stressful. But if you have a mental health problem, you may have more concerns or difficulties. For example:
You may feel like you need to be the best parent you can be. Or feel guilty that you can’t do certain things with your children. If you’re finding things difficult, it’s really important that you get the right help and support.
If you’re a single parent living with a mental health problem, this can bring about different challenges. The charity Gingerbread has more information about how to look after your wellbeing and mental health as a single parent.
Being a parent with a mental health problem can be difficult. You may also have other stressful life experiences that make parenting feel more challenging.
There’s lots of things you can do to support your own wellbeing. This section has some ideas that may help.
It can be easy to forget about looking after yourself when you have children. But taking time to help yourself is important. It can stop some problems from developing or getting worse.
Everyone has different ways of looking after themselves. That’s ok. But these are some ideas that might help:
You may worry about how your mental health problems could affect your children. It can be hard to know if your child is also struggling with their mental health.
Mind’s page talking to a young person about their mental health gives some tips on how to start talking to your child about their mental health.
If your child has responsibilities around the home, they may be classified as a young carer. You may feel concerned that your child’s caring responsibilities are having a negative impact on them. But there’s support out there.
Reaching out for help may bring up very difficult fears about having your children taken away. Remember that organisations will have supported lots of other parents. Their family support staff will be experienced in how best to help you manage your situation.
You may feel worried about seeking help for your mental health, in case it means your child[ren] might be taken into care. This may make you nervous about seeking help. This could increase stress for you and your family.
This section explains more about when children could be taken into care and what would happen:
For more information on what would happen if a child was going to be taken into care, see Citizens Advice.
If your child is taken into care this may be a very distressing experience. There are ways to find support to help you through the process:
Anna Freud
annafreud.org
Provides information for parents and carers to help you support a child and look after yourself.
Barnardo’s
barnardos.org.uk
Supports children and young people, and their parents and carers, including with mental health problems.
Carers Trust
carers.org
Information and support for people caring for someone else.
Childline
0800 1111
childline.org.uk
Support for children and young people in the UK, including a free helpline and 1-2-1 online chats with counsellors.
Citizens Advice
0800 144 8848 (England Adviceline)
18001 0800 144 8884 (textphone)
citizensadvice.org.uk
Free, confidential information and advice on your rights, including money, housing, experiences of discrimination and other problems.
Family Action
0808 802 6666
family-action.org.uk
Supports families of any kind, including with mental health problems.
Family Lives
0808 800 2222
familylives.org.uk
Information and support for parents and families.
Family Rights Group
0808 801 0366
frg.org.uk
Supports families whose children are in need, at risk or are in the care system.
Gingerbread
0808 802 0925
gingerbread.org.uk
Advice and practical support for single parent families.
Home-Start
home-start.org.uk
Support for families with young children, including details of local services.
Kinship
0300 123 7015
kinship.org.uk
Information for kinship carers.
Mumsnet
mumsnet.com
Online network aimed at parents and parents-to-be, including online forums and details of local groups.
Samaritans
116 123 (freephone)
jo@samaritans.org
Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
samaritans.org
Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person.
If you’re experiencing mental health problems while you’re pregnant or after you’ve had a baby, there are organisations that may be able to help.
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)
app-network.org
Information and support for anyone affected by postpartum psychosis.
Anxiety UK
03444 775 774 (helpline)
07537 416 905 (text)
anxietyuk.org.uk
Advice and support for people living with anxiety.
The Association for Post Natal Illness
020 7386 0868
apni.org
Support for women experiencing postnatal depression.
Birth Trauma Association
birthtraumaassociation.org
Support for anyone affected by birth trauma, including partners.
Bliss
hello@bliss.org.uk
bliss.org.uk
Information and support for parents of babies born premature or sick.
The Breastfeeding Network
0300 100 0212
breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
Support and information about breastfeeding and perinatal mental health.
Cry-sis
0800 448 0737
cry-sis.org.uk
Information and support for parents with crying and sleepless babies.
Dadsnet
thedadsnet.com
Online network of dads sharing articles, videos and podcasts.
Family Action
0808 802 6666
family-action.org.uk
Supports families of any kind, including with mental health problems.
Family Lives
0808 800 2222
familylives.org.uk
Information and support for parents and families.
Gingerbread
0808 802 0925
gingerbread.org.uk
Advice and practical support for single parent families.
Home-Start
home-start.org.uk
Support for families with young children, including details of local services.
Hub of Hope
hubofhope.co.uk
UK-wide mental health service database. Lets you search for local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support. You can filter results to find specific kinds of support.
The Lullaby Trust
0808 802 6868 (Bereavement support)
0808 802 6869 (Information & advice)
lullabytrust.org.uk
Information and support for people affected by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Maternal OCD
maternalocd.org
Information and support for people experiencing perinatal OCD, and their families.
Mind
Mind’s helplines provide information and support by phone and email.
Local Minds offer face-to-face services across England and Wales. These services include talking therapies, peer support and advocacy.
Side by Side is Mind’s supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
The Miscarriage Association
01924 200799
miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Information and support for anyone affected by miscarriage, molar pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy.
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)
0808 801 0331
support@napac.org.uk
napac.org.uk
Supports adult survivors of any form of childhood abuse. Offers a helpline, email support and local services.
National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
0300 330 0700
nct.org.uk
Information, support and classes for parents.
Netmums
netmums.com
Online community for parents, which also facilitates local meet-ups.
NHS UK
nhs.uk
Information about health problems and treatments, including details of local NHS services in England.
No Panic
0300 7729844
nopanic.org.uk
Provides a helpline, step-by-step programmes, and support for people with anxiety disorders
OCD Action
0300 636 5478
ocdaction.org.uk
Information and support for people affected by OCD and hoarding, including online forums and local support groups.
OCD-UK
01332 588 112
ocduk.org
Charity run by and for people with OCD.
PANDAS Foundation
0808 1961 776
pandasfoundation.org.uk
Information and support for parents and families experiencing a mental health problem during or after pregnancy.
Pink Parents
pinkparents.org.uk
Information for gay and lesbian parents.
Pregnancy Sickness Support
0800 055 4361
pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk
Information and support for people experiencing pregnancy sickness.
Sands
0808 164 3332
sands.org.uk
Information and support for anyone affected by the death of a baby.
Start4Life
nhs.uk/start4life
Information on pregnancy, breastfeeding and parenting from the NHS.
Tommy’s
tommys.org
Information and support for people affected by stillbirth, miscarriage and premature birth.
Twins Trust
0800 138 0509
twinstrust.org
Information and support for parents of twins, triplets and multiple births.
Our friendly team at the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub are here to help.
Enter your details and someone will call you back between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health help, please call 111 – the NHS non-emergency number. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is free from any phone. They have specialist mental health nurses who can support adults and young people.
In a life-threatening emergency, always call 999.