Mental health support
Having a baby can be joyful, exciting and rewarding. However, it is also common for new mothers or fathers to experience anxiety, depression or emotional distress. As many as one in five women experience emotional difficulties during pregnancy and in the first year after their baby's birth. This can happen to anyone.
‘Baby blues’
During the first week, the majority of women experience a short-lived change in emotions commonly known as ‘baby blues’. This is due to the sudden hormonal changes within the body, combined with altered sleep patterns and lifestyle adjustment. This is very common and will only last a few days.
Symptoms include:
- feeling emotional and irrational
- crying over seemingly small things or ‘over nothing’
- feeling irritable
- feeling sad or anxious
- feeling physically exhausted and overwhelmed.
It is important to seek support from your family, friends and midwife during this time and try to get as much rest as possible.
Postnatal depression and anxiety
Around one in seven parents will struggle with their emotional well-being and may develop postnatal depression or anxiety within the first year after childbirth. Struggling emotionally at this time can happen to anyone. It is not your fault.
You may experience on-going symptoms such as:
- low mood, sadness and tearfulness
- anxiety, worry and tension
- feeling overly tired, tearful and irritable
- difficult or unexpected feelings towards your baby
- poor sleep even when your baby sleeps well
- feeling unable to cope or enjoy anything
- thoughts that you are not a good enough parent
- worrying thoughts about your baby
- feelings of hopelessness
- struggling to come to terms with a difficult birth.
If you have been experiencing any of the above symptoms for two weeks or more, you could have postnatal depression or anxiety. It is important to seek help as soon as possible.
Getting help
It can be difficult to talk about how you are feeling and ask for help.
Common reasons for this are:
- you may not know what is wrong
- you may feel ashamed that you are not enjoying your baby or coping as you believe you should
- you may worry that your baby will be taken away.
Asking for help doesn’t mean you can’t cope or are not able to care for your child. It’s the start of getting the right help and support to ensure you can be the parent you want to be.
Try talking to someone you trust (friends or family) and contact your midwife, health visitor and/or GP to discuss how you are feeling. Your health care professionals are all trained to recognise postnatal depression and will be able to offer a range of support services to help you.
Talking therapies
Talking therapy services can provide support to those experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. Priority is given to pregnant women and new parents. You can either self-refer over the phone or online, or ask your midwife, health visitor or GP to do it for you. The service is free and aims to be flexible around your needs.
For more information visit:
For more information on talking therapy services visit NHS Choices.