HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Overview of mental illness during & after pregnancy
Tirohanga whānui ki te māuiuitanga hinengaro i te hapūtanga me i muri ake
Important
If a friend is depressed and considering suicide, contact your local mental health crisis team. You can also contact them if a friend is behaving unusually, and this is causing you or others to worry about her or her baby's safety. You can contact your local mental health crisis team on:
- Christchurch 0800‑920‑092
- Ashburton 0800‑222‑955
Low mood, depression, and anxiety in pregnancy or immediately after a pēpi (baby) is born, are common. They affect many women.
For some women, this might be the first time they experience mental illness. For others, a mental illness that was previously stable might come back during pregnancy or after the pēpi is born.
Anxiety and depression are the most common. Rarely, psychosis can also develop.
Some factors increase the risk of becoming mentally unwell during pregnancy or after childbirth. These include:
- a personal or whānau (family) history of serious mental illness during or after pregnancy
- difficulty getting pregnant
- finding it hard to adjust to being pregnant or being a mother
- a difficult pregnancy or birth experience.
Depression
Having depression when you are pregnant (antenatal depression), or after your pēpi is born (postnatal depression) is common. You can have depression even when you wanted to get pregnant, and you love your pēpi. It does not mean you are rejecting your pēpi.
Symptoms of depression include:
- feeling so low or sad that you struggle to enjoy your pēpi
- feeling constantly tearful
- being irritable, short-tempered and angry
- feeling constantly tired and lacking energy
- having little or no interest in things you usually enjoy
- having difficulties with your sleep and appetite.
If you think you have depression, get help as early as possible. It is important for you and your pēpi.
Depression can be treated with a combination of self-care and help from others. This can include support, talking therapies and medication.
Fathers can also get a kind of post-natal depression and may need help.
Anxiety
Many women experience anxiety while they are pregnant or after their pēpi is born. It is understandable since this is a time of great change and anticipation.
For some women this anxiety can become overwhelming. It can also cause problems during their pregnancy or after pēpi baby is born.
Symptoms of severe anxiety include:
- being unable to relax
- difficulty concentrating
- sleep problems
- repeated worrying.
Anxiety can also cause physical symptoms. These include a racing heart, feeling sick, shortness of breath and headaches. Sometimes anxiety can go along with depression.
If anxiety is a problem, you can try some ways to help yourself as well as reaching out for help from others.
Other conditions
If you have a history of mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, you may become unwell during pregnancy and the postnatal period. This means your doctor will need to closely monitor your health for any changes during this time.
Rarely, pregnant women or new mothers may develop a condition called postnatal psychosis. This most often happens in the first month after giving birth. It can be hard to recognise, as someone who has it might not share their thoughts with others.
If you have postnatal psychosis, you might start thinking very unusual thoughts. You may also start believing weird things and acting in strange ways. Postnatal psychosis needs treatment, and usually an admission to a psychiatric hospital. Seek advice from a medical professional if you have concerns about a new mother acting this way.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- 60 Minutes – Postnatal depression
A video about postnatal depression.
- Radio New Zealand – More than baby blues
A video about mental health struggles during and after pregnancy.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Healthify He Puna Wairoa – Perinatal depression
Information and links including videos and information in other languages.
- Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa (PADA)
PADA aims to remove the stigma around perinatal mental health in New Zealand. It has information about mental illness during and after pregnancy. It also has information about seminars and events around New Zealand.
On the next page: Self-care for mental illness during & after pregnancy
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2024.
SourcesReview key: HIMIP-416276
