

Welcoming a new member of the family can also be a complicated time for fathers and partners External Link, who may worry about being a good partner and parent, how a baby will affect their lifestyle, or how they will deal with the added responsibilities. It’s not just new mums or mums-to-be who can feel anxious and apprehensive. Postnatal depression is a common mental health condition, affecting up to one in seven women giving birth in Australia. Postnatal depression can occur between one month and up to one year after a woman gives birth to a baby. But if these symptoms continue beyond the early days, it may be a sign of something more serious, like depression or anxiety. Usually you don’t need any treatment, just support and understanding. Often, changes in hormone levels are to blame and these feelings usually pass within a few days. Up to 80 per cent of women feel teary, irritable, overly sensitive, moody or overwhelmed after giving birth (often between day three and day 10 after birth). You may have heard about the baby blues External Link. And you might find it hard not having much time to yourself. Being a mum is hard work! You might have unrealistic expectations of new motherhood. You may be sore after the birth, not getting enough sleep, overwhelmed by your new baby and feeling worried about being a good mum. Together, they can help you manage your pregnancy and your mental health. And tell your mental health care provider that you’re pregnant. The most important thing is to talk about it – tell the health provider managing your pregnancy about your mental health condition. If you have a pre-existing or a past mental health condition, and you are pregnant, the good news is that with support and treatment, you are likely to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. According to PANDA External Link (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia), up to one in ten women experience depression during their pregnancy. But if these feelings of sadness, worry or anxiety start to affect your life, it may be something more serious, like perinatal depression or anxiety. These are all common worries and you may feel some or all of these things during your pregnancy. Or maybe you’re concerned about childbirth. Maybe you’re worried about how a new baby will affect your relationship. And not surprisingly, they can affect how you feel about being pregnant.įor some people, there’s the worry of what lies ahead. Morning sickness, backache, headache, leg cramps, varicose veins, itchiness, constipation, haemorrhoids, indigestion and vaginal discharge are some of the realities of pregnancy. Pregnancy changes your body in all sorts of ways. Just remember that there are lots of places to find help.
MOOD CHANGES BEFORE LABOR FULL
Pregnancy and new parenthood are full of emotions – some good and some not so good. Some mums find it easy to adjust to life with a new baby, but others don’t. And it doesn’t stop when the baby arrives. But it can also make you feel uncomfortable, unwell and worried, and make you wonder how you are going to cope. Finding out you are pregnant can be a very exciting time.
