Mental wellbeing after pregnancy

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What is mental wellbeing?

Mental wellbeing is about how you think, feel and cope with everyday life. It includes your mood, your ability to manage stress and how well you can balance the demands of parenting, relationships and other responsibilities.

After pregnancy, your mental wellbeing plays an important role in how you bond with your baby, how you recover physically and how you adjust to life as a parent.

Good mental health doesn’t mean you feel happy all the time. It means you have the skills and support to manage challenges when they come up, and to know when to reach out for help.

How can having a baby affect my mental health and wellbeing?

Becoming a parent is one of the biggest life changes you’ll ever experience. Even though it can bring great joy, it also brings huge demands on your body, emotions and relationships.

Some common factors that affect mental health after pregnancy include:

• Hormonal changes: After birth, hormone levels change quickly, which can affect mood.
• Lack of sleep: Babies need frequent feeding and care, so it’s normal to feel tired and drained.
• Physical recovery: Your body is healing from pregnancy and birth, which can take time.
• Relationship changes: Adjusting as a couple or co-parents can be challenging at times.
• Pregnancy or birth complications: If you’ve experienced pregnancy or birth complications, you may be at high risk of developing postnatal depression.
• Lack of social support: Without a strong support system, feelings of isolation, overwhelm and stress may be stronger.

It is important to remember that your mental health matters just as much as your physical health. Looking after your wellbeing helps you care for your baby, too.

What mental health conditions might I experience after having a baby?

There are many mental health conditions you may experience after having a baby, from baby blues to more serious mental health conditions such as postnatal depression or anxiety.

Baby blues

If you’ve recently had a baby, you might experience the 'baby blues' in the first few days after birth. It is most often temporary, and usually goes away by itself within 2 weeks.

Symptoms of the baby blues can include:

• feeling teary or irritable — you might not even know why
• mood swings that change quickly from happy to sad
• feeling overwhelmed, sensitive or easily upset

Read more on baby blues.

Postnatal depression

Postnatal depression is common and can affect mothers as well as their partners.

Postnatal depression is more serious than the baby blues. It lasts longer and can make it hard to cope with everyday life, care for your baby or look after yourself. It can also affect your overall wellbeing.

Signs of postnatal depression include:

• feeling sad for at least 2 weeks
• losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
• feeling guilty
• having trouble bonding with your baby

It is important to seek help if you think you or your partner may have postnatal depression. Getting help earlier makes recovery easier.

There are several treatments for postnatal depression. They include psychological therapies such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT), antidepressant medicines and self-care measures like support from family and friends, eating a healthy diet and keeping active.

Read more on postnatal depression.

Postnatal anxiety

Postnatal anxiety happens when worries and fears become overwhelming and affect your daily life and functioning. It can affect both you and your partner.

Signs of postnatal anxiety may include:

• constant worry about your baby’s safety or health
• racing thoughts
• feeling restless or panicky
• physical symptoms such as a racing heart, upset stomach or dizziness

Postnatal anxiety often happens with postnatal depression. Both of these mental health conditions are common and treatable.

Read more on postnatal anxiety.

Postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is a rare, but a very serious mental health condition where a person loses touch with reality. Usually it happens within the first few days or weeks after giving birth, but it can happen at any time. It can affect the way you think, see and understand things. People with postpartum psychosis may not realise they are unwell.

Symptoms can include:

• hallucinations — seeing or hearing things that aren't there
• delusions — strong beliefs that aren't true or based on reality
• anger — feeling very upset or irritable, sometimes without a clear reason
• hyperactivity — having lots of energy and being unable to rest or slow down
• rapid mood swings — emotions that change very quickly, from happy to sad or angry
• suicidal thoughts — thinking about harming yourself or ending your life

Postpartum psychosis is in most cases a medical emergency and needs urgent hospital care.

Read more on postpartum psychosis.

Birth trauma

Birth trauma has been described as an experience of interactions or events during childbirth that causes overwhelming distressing emotions, leading to negative impacts on your health and wellbeing. This can affect you, your partner or a non-birthing parent.

Childbirth is different for everyone, and in some it can cause physical or psychological injuries (trauma). Birth trauma can have an ongoing effect on your health and wellbeing.

Support from a doctor, midwife or psychologist can help you recover from birth trauma.

Read more on the emotional and psychological impact of birth trauma.

Read more on physical birth injuries.

What are risk factors for mental illness after having a baby?

Risk factors for mental illness after having a baby are:

• having ever had depression, anxiety or other mental illness
• lack of support
• previous trauma including physical, emotional, domestic or sexual abuse
• isolation
• stressful life events
• history of drug or alcohol abuse

Knowing your risk factors can help you, your family and your healthcare team plan extra support.

What are symptoms of postnatal anxiety and depression?

For a diagnosis of postnatal anxiety and depression, your symptoms will have lasted for 2 weeks or longer. Symptoms can include:

• depressed mood
• no interest or pleasure in things you once enjoyed
• major change in weight or appetite
• trouble sleeping (even when your baby sleeps)
• feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
• physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations, headaches or sweaty hands

If you or your partner is experiencing these symptoms, it is important to seek help urgently.

When should I see my doctor or midwife?

You should speak with your doctor, midwife or a maternal child health nurse if you:

• have any symptoms of depression or anxiety for longer than 2 weeks
• have negative feelings that affect your everyday life and how you function
• find it hard to care for yourself or your baby

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How can I support my mental wellbeing after having a baby?

You can support your mental wellbeing after having a baby by:

• accepting or asking for help from your partner, family members or friends
• creating a good sleep environment that is dark, cool and quiet
• plan your grocery shopping so you have ingredients at home that make healthy eating easier
• keeping active with physical activities and exercise you usually enjoy
• getting emotional support from trusted family and friends
• using stress-management techniques, such as breathing or relaxation exercises
• seeking professional support if you need it

Resources and support

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) has information on mental health problems during and after pregnancy:

• Phone their National Helpline on 1300 726 306.
• Find support in different languages and support for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Beyond Blue offers support online, or you can phone 1300 22 4636.

For advice and to get connected to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.

The Gidget Foundation Australia supports the emotional wellbeing of expectant, new and potential parents through a range of services and specialist care.

COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence) provides support for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent. They also have information in different languages.

Languages other than English

• The Multicultural Centre for Women's Health has a catalogue of health resources available in more than 70 community languages.
• PANDA has a checklist available in many languages to understand how you're feeling and if you might need support.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

• ForWhen provides mental health and wellbeing support for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people during pregnancy and afterwards.
• 13 YARN — 24/7 crisis support for mob with a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. Call 13 92 76

Information for sexually and gender-diverse families

• COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence) has resources and tips for LGBTIQ+ parents and rainbow families.