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Short videos on mental health around the time of birth

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This information and videos are available in verified by experts in our Editorial Board including representatives from Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Royal College of Psychiatrists as well as other key health organisations in the UK. To download Baby Buddy, visit the relevant app store of your choice:

Introduction

Mental health doctor Alain explains how you are the best person to know whether what you're feeling is normal for you - and why it's so important to talk to someone if you feel something's not right.

Feelings in pregnancy

New mum Nicola talks about some of her feelings when she was pregnant, including being very emotional at her first ultrasound scan.

Feelings after birth

New mum Rebecca talks about feeling low and emotional after her baby was born. Talking to friends and family can help - but if you need more support, talk to your midwife or health visitor

Mental Health problems

Mental health doctor Alain explains what postnatal depression is, and what to do if you have it.

Coping and support

New mum Katie, who has depression, talks about some simple, practical steps she took took to help avoid stress and keep her relationship strong.

If you're feeling low, talk to your midwife, health visitor or doctor.

You can get information and support from PANDAS ( www.pandasfoundation.org.uk, helpline 0843 2898401) or APNI ( www.apni.org.uk, helpline 020 7386 0868).

Getting help and treatment

Women's mental health doctor Trudi talks about when to ask for help if you're not feeling right or you're worried about your mental health. Talk to your midwife, health visitor or doctor about how you feel.

Mental health long films

Four mothers talk about their experiences of having depression and anxiety, and health professionals describe the options for support and treatment. This video is a clip from the longer film.

You can get information and support for depression and anxiety at MIND ( www.mind.org.ukhelpline 0300 123 3393 or text 86463), PANDAS ( www.pandasfoundation.org.ukhelpline 0843 2898401), APNI ( www.apni.org, helpline 0207 386 0868) or Anxiety UK ( www.anxietyuk.org.uk, helpline 08444 775 774).

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Our Out of the Blue videos support parents' and soon-to-be parents' wellbeing during pregnancy and beyond.

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A short TED talk

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WOW LIVE! Managing Anxiety as a New Parent

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What is perinatal depression?

Depression is the most common perinatal mental health disorder women experience in pregnancy and the first year after having a baby (NICE, 2014). Depression in pregnancy is seen in 7-12% of women, (Bennett et al., 2004; Gavin et al., 2005) with postnatal depression rates of around 10-15% reported.

Around 10% of fathers have depression in the perinatal period (Beszlag & Hopkinson, 2020) and it is common for both parents to experience mental health problems at the same time (Anding et al., 2016). Depression is a mental health illness which, with treatment, will get better in time.

Depression in pregnancy can start at any time, although the severity may be different in each trimester. Postnatal depression usually comes on within six weeks of giving birth, although it can emerge up to a year after your baby is born (MIND, 2017). While postnatal depression should dissipate within a few months, 3 in 10 people with PND will still be ill after the first year (NICE, 2014).

Watch our video below where three mums talk about what it feels like to experience postnatal mental health issues.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Like depression at other times in life, it can be mild, moderate or severe. It can come on gradually or suddenly (NICE, 2014). The main difference though is that it can be a lot trickier to recognise. That's because your mental state is likely to change in the weeks and months after you have a baby anyway (NICE, 2014). You will also have such a lot going on around you.

Symptoms of depression can include:

feeling down and teary

an inability to concentrate

low sex drive

feeling worthless

inability to feel happiness

sleep problems

anger

finding it difficult to leave the house

overeating

problems bonding with your baby

suicidal thoughts

(Boots Family Trust Alliance, 2013)

A depression and anxiety self-assessment quiz is available here.

You can also seek information and support through NHS 111 or via your GP.

If you feel at risk of harming yourself or others then call 999, attend an emergency health care setting, or call the Samaritans on 116 123.

What causes depression in parents?

The exact cause of postnatal depression is not clear, although in women it doesn't seem to be due to hormonal changes (Patient, 2017). Some factors are known to increase the chance of becoming depressed in pregnancy and after birth. These include:

having a previous mental health problem

experiencing a traumatic birth experience or loss of a baby through stillbirth

living in a violent social situation

being a refugee or asylum seeker

having a history of childhood or adulthood abuse

having poor social support.

(RCOG, 2011; NICE, 2014; Ayers and Delicate, 2016)

Speak to your GP or midwife if you think you are at risk of depression so that you can get support.

What is the effect of having depression?

It is important to get help for depression so that you can access the right treatment and support to enable you to get better (Shakespeare, 2015). If not, it can have major consequences for your mental health, your relationship, your partner's mental health and the development of your baby (Fatherhood Institute, 2010; Howard et al, 2014; Ayers and Delicate, 2016).

It is common to have depression along with other perinatal mental health conditions such as anxiety, birth trauma and PTSD (Dikmen-Yildiz et al., 2017).

Support and treatment for depression

Treatments for depression include talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or anti-depressants (talk to your GP for advice if you're breastfeeding) (NICE, 2014; NHS 2018). If depression becomes severe, you might need a stay in hospital or mother and baby unit (RCOG, 2011; NHS Choices, 2018).

You can access treatment for depression via your GP or you can find out more about NHS psychological services here.

There are self-care tips that may help with mild to moderate depression:

1. Build a support network and make time to meet friends and other mums for a much-needed cup of tea and a chat (NEF, 2008).

2. Accept offers of help. It might be your mum dusting your living room or your best friend walking your newborn around the block so you can lie down. Whatever it is, take it (Boots Family Trust Alliance, 2013).

3. Exercise can work wonders for the way you feel (Cooney et al, 2013). It is also a great long-term practice for safeguarding your mental health (NEF, 2008; NHS, 2018). If you have recently given birth, it is important to give your body a chance to physically recover. The NHS provides some guidance which is suitable for pregnancy and after birth.

4. Try to eat healthily and regularly, and cut back on caffeine and alcohol (NHS, 2018).

5. Get showered and dressed, even if your plan for today is to go no further than the back door to put some nappies in the bin (MIND, 2017).

6. Be mindful - apps like Headspace can help improve your mental wellbeing and help you to deal with daily challenges (NEF, 2008). You can even practice mindfulness on the sofa while your newborn is feeding.

7. Keep a mood diary. It can help you notice how people, places and activities affect your mood (MIND, 2020).

8. Sign up to a baby massage class at NCT or with your local children's centre through a referral from your health visitor (NHS, 2018).

9. Contact local or national specialist organisations - they may offer the opportunity to talk to other women who are going through the same thing. Services available might include a dedicated telephone helpline, a buddy service, online support, support groups, counselling and wellbeing sessions.

This page was last reviewed in February 2022
Further information

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 0300 330 0700.

You might find attending one of our Early Days groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby.

Contact specialist organisations like PANDAS for more help and support with postnatal depression including a FREE helpline number on 0808 1961776.

Experiencing mental health symptoms can be overwhelming but help is available, so speak to a trusted health care professional such as a midwife, health visitor, or GP. If you feel at risk of harming yourself or others then call 999, attend an emergency department, or call the Samaritans on 116 123.

Anding, J. E., Röhrle, B., Grieshop, M., Schücking, B., & Christiansen, H. (2016). Couple comorbidity and correlates of postnatal depressive symptoms in mothers and fathers in the first two weeks following delivery. Journal of Affective Disorders, 190, 300-309. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.10.033

Ayers S & Delicate A. (2016). Recognising and acting on perinatal mental health. Perspective; 32. Available at: https://www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Ayers%20and%20Delicate%20Recognising%20and%20acting%20on%20perinatal%20mental%20health.pdf [Accessed 26 January 2022].

Bennett, H.A., Einarson, A.,  Taddio, A., Koren, G., & Einarson, T.R. (2004). Prevalence of depression during pregnancy: systematic review. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 103 (2004), 698-709. Available at: https://doi.org /10.1097/01.AOG.0000116689.75396.5f

Beszlag, D., &Hodkinson, P. (2020). Paternal perinatal mental health difficulties - an evidence review. Evidence review produced for NCT.

Boots Family Trust Alliance. (2013) Perinatal mental health: experiences of women and health professionals. Available from: https://www.tommys.org/sites/default/files/legacy/Perinatal_Mental_Health_Experiences%20of%20women.pdf [Accessed 26 January 2022].

Coates R. (2016) Broadening the net: assessing the full range of perinatal mental health problems. Perspective; 32. Available from: https://www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Perspective-September-2016_0.pdf [Accessed 1st December 2017].

Cooney, G.M., Dwan, K., Greig, C.A., Lawlor D.A., Rimer, J., Waugh, F.R., McMurdo, M., & Mead G.E. (2013) Exercise for depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; (9). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004366.pub6

Fatherhood Institute. (2010) Research summary: fathers and postnatal depression. Available from:

http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/2010/fatherhood-institute-research-summary-fathers-and-postnatal-depression [Accessed 26 January 2022].

Gavin, N.I., Gaynes, B.N., Lohr, K.N., Meltzer-Brody, S., Gartlehner, G., & Swinson, T. (2005). Perinatal depression: a systematic review of prevalence and incidence

Obstetrics & Gynecology, 106 (2005),1071-1083. Available at: https;//doi.org/ 10.1097/01.AOG.0000183597.31630.db

Howard LM, Piot P, Stein A. (2014) No health without perinatal mental health. The Lancet; 384(9956):1723-1724 Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25455235

MIND. (2020) Postnatal depression and perinatal mental health pages. Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/postnatal-depression-and-perinatal-mental-health/postnatal-and-antenatal-depression/#.WcozHYokqRs [Accessed 26 January 2022]

NEF. (2008) Five ways to wellbeing. A report presented to the Foresight programme on communicating the evidence base for improving people's wellbeing. Available at: https://neweconomics.org/2008/10/five-ways-to-wellbeing [Accessed 26 January 2022].

NHS (2018) Overview postnatal depression. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Postnataldepression/Pages/Introduction.aspx [Accessed 26th January 2022].

NICE (2014) Antenatal and postnatal mental health. CG192. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg192 [Accessed 26th January 2022].

RCOG. (2011) Management of women with mental health issues during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Good Practice No. 14. Available at: https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/managementwomenmentalhealthgoodpractice14.pdf [Accessed 26 January 2022].

RCPSYCH. (2018). Postnatal depression - key facts. Available at: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/postnatal-depression-key-facts [Accessed 14 January 2022]

Shakespeare J. (2015) Perinatal mental health: the picture today. Perspective; 26. Available from: https://www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Perinatal%20mental%20health-%20the%20picture%20today.pdf [Accessed January 2018].

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Perinatal depression: the questions you really want to ask | Life as a parent articles & support | NCT

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Heard it discussed but still feel in the dark? Here are the answers to the most common questions about depression in pregnancy and after birth.

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Postnatal depression and perinatal mental health | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems

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Postnatal depression and perinatal mental health | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems

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'Perinatal' means the time from the start of your pregnancy up to roughly one year after giving birth. The word has two parts:

peri meaning 'around'

natal meaning 'birth'.

You might also hear other terms used to describe the times before or after giving birth:

Antenatal or prenatal meaning 'before birth'. This refers to the time when you are pregnant.

Postnatal or postpartum meaning 'after birth'. This refers to the first year after giving birth.

There's no right or wrong word to describe the period of time around pregnancy and after giving birth. You might hear your doctor or midwife use any of these terms.

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'Perinatal' means the time from the start of your pregnancy up to roughly one year after giving birth. The word has two parts: peri meaning 'around' natal meaning 'birth'. You might also hear other terms used to describe the times before or after giving birth: Antenatal or prenatal meaning 'before birth'.