Emotional and mental health changes are common during pregnancy and after birth and everyone’s experience is different. Support is available at any time whether things feel manageable or more challenging.
You should talk to a maternity care provider or seek support at any time if feelings of sadness, anxiety or distress are affecting you or make it hard to cope or care for yourself or your baby. Getting support early helps recovery and wellbeing for both parent and baby.
During pregnancy
Common experiences
It’s normal during pregnancy to experience:
- worry about your baby, birth or becoming a parent
- mood changes, tearfulness or irritability
- feeling tired, overwhelmed or emotional
- trouble sleeping, especially later in pregnancy
- needing extra reassurance or support.
Support is available at any time. You do not need to wait until things get worse.
What can help
Things that can support your emotional wellbeing during pregnancy include:
- emotional support from a partner, family, friends or community
- talking about how you are feeling with a trusted maternity care provider
- feeling safe at home and in relationships
- practical help, such as support with housing, money, transport or childcare
- connection to culture, spirituality or community
- clear and reliable information about pregnancy and birth
- access to interpreters, disability inclusive care or neuro-affirming support if needed.
When to seek extra support
Most people feel better with support, seek support if you, or someone close to you, notices:
- feeling very sad, angry, anxious, or panicky most days, and it’s affecting daily life
- going over the same thoughts again and again
- feeling numb, disconnected or hopeless
- trouble sleeping, even though you feel very tired, that feels more than pregnancy or new baby related
- feeling unable to cope day to day
- strong fears that don’t ease with reassurance
- past trauma (including birth trauma or family violence) affecting how you feel now
- thoughts of harming yourself or feeling that others would be better off without you
- If you are experiencing family violence.
If you are feeling worried, overwhelmed or not yourself, you can talk to a healthcare provider or seek support at any time. Speak up no matter how minor it seems.
Find resources and tools to support your mental health and wellbeing.
After your baby is born
Common experiences
In the weeks after birth, it’s common to experience:
- baby blues — tearfulness and mood swings
- feeling overwhelmed or unsure as you adjust
- extreme tiredness and broken sleep
- worrying about your baby and whether you are “doing it right”.
These feelings often improve with time, rest and support.
What can help
After birth, mental health can be supported by:
- feeling listened to and respected by health professionals
- practical help with your baby and everyday tasks
- time to rest and recover
- feeling safe in your care and at home
- culturally safe, accessible and inclusive services
- connection with other parents or community groups
- ongoing support from Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services.
When to seek extra support
Most people feel better with support, seek support if you, or someone close to you, notices:
- low mood or anxiety that lasts longer than 2 weeks
- feeling constantly on edge, panicky or unable to relax
- feeling disconnected from your baby or from yourself
- withdrawing from family, friends or support
- intrusive or distressing thoughts
- everyday tasks feeling unmanageable
- feeling unsafe, unsupported or at risk
- feeling very confused, disoriented or unlike yourself, especially if this starts suddenly
- experiencing thoughts or perceptions that feel unusual or very distressing
- you or your baby are experiencing family violence.
Some organisations and resources may have a waitlist, so when engaging with them it’s important to ask about the timeline for receiving help and whether additional supports are needed in the meantime.
Pre-existing mental health conditions
If you’ve needed help with your mental health before pregnancy, you’re not alone.
Having a pre-existing mental health condition does not mean you will experience difficulties. For some women, they may not experience any changes to their mental health during pregnancy and, for others, mental health concerns may re-emerge during this time.
Planning early can help your care team put the right support in place to keep you and your baby well. If you need support, there are safe and effective treatments available during pregnancy. Maternity services are experienced in supporting mental health needs.
Speak to your mental health or maternity care providers early, as preventive care is very effective. Letting your doctor, midwife or nurse know how you’re feeling helps them coordinate care that works for you.
Urgent mental health support
If someone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero on 000.
Urgent help is available, and you don’t have to figure this out on your own.
If you or someone in your family is thinking about hurting themselves or is displaying concerning behaviour, crisis support is available.
Contact your midwife, GP, Maternal and Child Health nurse or local hospital’s mental health service. To find your mental health service, see the HealthDirect Service Finder.
Other phone support includes:
- Lifeline on 131114 — 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention.
- PANDA on 1300 726 306 — support for perinatal mental health.
- 13YARN on 13 92 76 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support.
- The Bush Support Line on 1800 805 391 for people living in rural and regional areas.
- Rainbow door on 1800 729 367 – suicide and crisis interventions for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 – for people aged up to 25 years of age seeking 24/7 telephone counselling.
- TIS National on 13 14 50 (Translating and Interpreting service) - Interpreting services for non-English speakers.
- The national relay service on 1300 555 727 for people with a hearing or speech impairment.
If you are still in hospital and having concerns about your mental health, you can speak to your maternity care provider and ask to be referred to social work or mental health support.