Pregnancy and the period after (often called the perinatal period) are often described as the happiest time in a person’s life. However, almost everybody experiences some stress, worry, anxiety or low mood symptoms, just like in everyday life. For many, these short-lasting mood symptoms are both normal and common and do not hurt your developing baby. However, for around 1 in 4-5 mums and 1 in 10 dads, they become more difficult to cope with and can develop into a mental health problem such as anxiety or depression.
Pregnancy and having a new baby can cause pressure to your relationships and changes to your social group. It can be a difficult time due to hormonal changes and the physical changes that occur in your body. Pregnancy sickness can leave you feeling low and can contribute to how you are feeling. Some people feel isolated during pregnancy but help is not far away.
The most important thing to remember is that if you are struggling with how you are feeling during pregnancy, talk to somebody. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the time it takes you too feel better and there is much support available.
Watch a video made by parents about perinatal positivity using the link below. This is available in a range of languages.
Some pregnant women and people might have pre-existing mental health conditions, which may become more difficult to cope with during the perinatal period and for others it might be they are struggling with their mental health for the first time.
You might be at more risk of declining mental health during the perinatal period if you have certain conditions. Therefore, please let your midwife or doctor know if you have any of the following:
- Bipolar affective or schizoaffective disorder
- Previously experienced a psychosis at any time or had a diagnosis of schizophrenia
- Have previously been in hospital for your mental health
- Taking / have recently stopped anti-psychotic or mood stabilising medications
If you do have any of these, you will be offered a referral to the Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team (SPCMHT) to discuss and plan the best care for you and your family and you will also be supported by the perinatal mental health midwife. Find out more about the SPCMH team: Perinatal Mental Health :: Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.
Your midwife will ask you some routine questions at booking about your mental health. This is an important first step in identifying what support you may require during the perinatal period, and will mean we can plan your care effectively.
It may involve offering you an assessment or support by an obstetrician, specialist midwife, health visitor, perinatal mental health practitioner or through talking therapies. If you have experienced birth trauma previously, then it may involve a referral to the reproductive trauma service.
The aim is that all care is individualised and personalised to you and your family.
There are some signs which suggest your mental health during or after pregnancy might be under pressure.
Below is a perinatal mental health symptom checker from the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
If you experience any of the symptoms below, or something else that doesn’t feel right for you, please contact the Initial Response Service (IRS) on 0800 0130709 (24/7) or speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor without delay.
- Sudden, big, or constant changes in your mood or emotions,
- Thoughts or images about harming yourself or harm to your baby, especially if they are intense or violent. Find out more about intrusive thoughts: Intrusive thoughts and other scary feelings | Maternal Mental Health Alliance,
- Feeling overwhelmed by guilt, shame, or hopelessness,
- Struggling to bond with your baby or feeling detached from them,
- Finding it impossible to sleep or relax, even when your baby is sleeping,
- Thinking that you're not a good parent or your baby is better off without you,
- Seeing, hearing or believing things that others don't,
- Frequent worry about food or your body image.
These symptoms cover a range of perinatal mental health conditions, some of which are more common than others.
Remember: You know what's normal for you. If you don't feel right, speak to someone without delay. Don't dismiss it as 'baby blues'.
At least 1 in 5 will experience mental health problems around pregnancy. You are not alone. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Watch a short video about perinatal mental health here.
- Community Midwife: Your named community midwifery team are available for reassurance and are able to provide emotional support and signpost if extra support is required.
- Health Visitor: It is routine that all women are seen by their health visitor, for support during pregnancy, from 28 weeks and as required until their baby is school age. Your health visitor is able to support you emotionally during pregnancy and after birthing and offer practical advice on a range of issues, including, postnatal depression, feeding, baby groups, bonding and child development.
- Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Midwife: The role of a specialist midwife is to support women and birthing people with complex and severe mental health conditions. Most of the time you will have a mental health team supporting you alongside the specialist midwife. They will listen to you and provide information to enable you to make choices about your care and working closely with your mental health team to develop an ‘Around Birth Care Plan’ for when your baby is due. One way the specialist midwife can support you in in the specialist perinatal mental health midwifery clinic.
- Reproductive Trauma Service Practitioners: A birth trauma practitioner will be able to support you with any previous experiences you might have found traumatic, which impact you during the perinatal period, especially, following a difficult birth or neonatal experience, or for those who have experienced a loss during pregnancy. The team consists of specialist midwives and therapists who can deliver a range of interventions to help support you.
- Perinatal Mental Health Lead Obstetrician: The role of your obstetrician is to discuss and plan your care with you when you have complexity. This might be physical or mental complexity. There is a specialist perinatal lead consultant obstetrician who may be part of your care and can offer advice and support during their antenatal clinic, which is run jointly with the specialist mental health midwife.
- Talking Therapies: Some women will benefit from seeing a therapist and considering a range of different talking therapies. This can be face or online and can support you to work through problems such as anxiety, depression, OCD and other emotional issues.
- Perinatal Mental Health Team: The role of the perinatal practitioner is to support you and your family throughout the perinatal period, if you are experiencing severe or complex mental health problems or are at risk of developing them, due to a pre-existing or previous mental health condition. They will also provide guidance to your health care team, including your GP, midwife and other professionals. They also provide you directly with care and advice on managing your mental health, including, advice on medication during pregnancy and with breastfeeding, completing an ‘Around Birth Care Plan’ and any other needs as identified by the team supporting you.
- Support with substance use: Some people experiencing emotional difficulties can find themselves turning to alcohol and drugs to cope. Any amount of alcohol or recreational drug use can increase the risks to your developing baby and following birth. All the professionals involved in your care are able to signpost you towards services if you feel you would like help. It is a very difficult topic to discuss but you will not be judged when you ask for help. The aim is always to support you to make healthy choices for your family.
This is always a difficult choice for families to consider and often causes stress. The key thing is not to discontinue your medication without seeking medical advice from the prescriber. It is often safer to continue with your medication throughout the perinatal period. Further information on medication during pregnancy is available on the BUMPS website.
You can also still breastfeed whilst taking most medications for your mental health. Further information is available on the Lactmed website.
The most important thing to remember is some stress and worry in pregnancy is completely normal and will not harm your growing baby. But it is important to recognise when help is needed so you can be supported to enjoy the relationship you have with your baby.
It can be very difficult to admit you are not feeling happy during your pregnancy, but these feelings are very common and often lead to a lot of stress and guilt. People often hide these worries because they are concerned, they will be judged. We strive to provide you with compassionate care which is helpful and supportive. Please do not be afraid to tell a professional how you are feeling, as there is a lot of help we can put in place.
Watch a video about the Caring Connection created by the Parent-Infant Relationship Service here.
- NHS Talking Therapies: They offer a range of free psychological therapies to people aged 16 and over. Find more information: Blackpool Talking Therapies :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.
- Post Partum Psychosis: Action on Postpartum Psychosis | The national charity for mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis.
- Support with Pregnancy Sickness: Information and Advice on Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy :: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
- Support for Dads: Information for Dads :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
- Lancashire LGBT Support Groups: Support groups for those identifying as gay, lesbian, non-binary & trans, peer Support includes: Manspace, LGBTQ+ Women & Non-Binary group, Trans-Masc Support. The also offer Counselling, one to one support & gender outreach / identity. Find out more: Lancashire LGBT Support Groups - Lancashire LGBT - Happier, healthier and better connected.
- The Light Lounge: At Blackpool Light Lounge: both your immediate crisis and longer-term recovery goals. We provide safe, high-quality support with an emphasis on understanding the factors which contributed to your crisis. The service equips you with strategies and tools to support your ongoing mental health recovery. Self-referral (prior arrangement by telephone, or drop in between 4pm-10pm). Call 01253 477745 or 07741 834840 or email Blackpool.
haven .@waythrough.org.uk - Lancashire Womens: Emotional health and wellbeing support to families attending the Neonatal Unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. We also provide 1 to 1 counselling when the family leaves the ward.Our 1-to-1 counselling support is also open to families from the Blackpool community (postcodes FY 1-4) who may be struggling with their mental health during the perinatal period. (pregnancy up until a child is 2 years old). This includes when a family has experienced pregnancy loss or the death of a child for example through miscarriage, stillbirth, sudden infant death syndrome, termination, abortion, or loss through foster care or adoption. Call 0300 330 1354 or visit: Charity Supporting Women in Lancashire.
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service: Call 0800 121 7762 and select option 1 or visit Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.
- YoutherapY: You can visit the team on the first floor at 26 Talbot Road in Blackpool every Wednesday between 3pm-5pm. You can make a referral into the service by emailing bfwh.
youtherapy t or call 0800 121 7762 and a practitioner can guide you through the process. You can also complete the self-referral form here: Blackpool Options4CYP self-referral :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.@nhs.ne - Empowerment: Empowerment is a Blackpool based charity which has made a long term commitment to supporting our local communities and improving lives. Find out more: Empowerment Blackpool | Empowerment Charity.
