Mental health during pregnancy

Perinatal mental health is the umbrella term for all mental health issues surrounding pregnancy, including the year after birth. You may also hear terms like antenatal/antenatal depression and postnatal depression (PND), which refer to specific times during your pregnancy or after the birth of your baby.

Mental health issues in general are talked about much more freely than they used to be, with people now being openly encouraged to talk about their feelings and discuss what is bothering them. Because it is now known that mental health conditions are more common during pregnancy and in the postnatal period, improvements have been made in care surrounding pregnancy and mental health.

Your mental health during pregnancy

Women are encouraged to discuss their mental health during and after pregnancy with their midwife, as mental health problems during this time can often come on suddenly and be debilitating. This blog is about women's mental health during pregnancy.

There are several reasons why some women develop mental health conditions during pregnancy. It can have one cause or a combination of different factors. During pregnancy, many hormonal and... physical changes temporarily change your feelings and affect your mental health.

What we do know is that if you have one or more of the following risk factors, you are more likely to develop a mental illness.

Risk factors for depression during or after pregnancy:

Lack of social and family support, feelings of loneliness or the feeling of not being supported by the people around you.
Chemical imbalances in the brain that are out of your control. This may require therapy or medication to better stabilize your mood.
Have a history of one or more episodes of mental health problems or personality disorders. This also includes problems with anxiety and depression.
If you had a difficult or violent childhood. This includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse, as well as neglect as a child.
Lack of access to specialist mental health services or related mental health support services throughout your life when you needed this help.
Previous post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by one or more traumatic life events in the past.

Remember that just because you have one or more of the above risk factors does not mean that you will develop a mental illness during your pregnancy. It is good to state this honestly

Be aware of your own mental health

Awareness is a positive step towards good mental health. This is also good if others recognize that there could be a problem. If you have suffered from mental illness before you became pregnant, you (or others around you) may recognize some warning signs that you are feeling less well. Some women are even alerted by recognizing triggers that indicate they are not feeling well psychologically.

It is good to talk to us as your midwife, GP or other healthcare provider you trust as soon as you recognize any signs, as we as a team can ensure that you have access to supportive care that could help you.

If you have not had mental health problems before, the signs that you are not feeling stable can be very confusing and you may try to ignore them. Try to listen to your body and mind when you think they want to tell you something.

Self-help measures during pregnancy or after childbirth:

Exercise has been proven to help relieve stress and tension and improve your mental health. It can be difficult to motivate yourself during pregnancy or with a new baby when you feel tired. If restrictions allow, ask a friend to join you – or look for pregnancy gym groups. Try to choose an exercise or activity that you enjoy and you will be more likely to stick with it.

Be open and don't keep your feelings to yourself. Tell friends and family you trust how you feel. Seek help sooner rather than later. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. As midwives or your GP, we can give you a lot of advice and point you in the direction of the relevant sources to help you.

Resume

In summary, pregnancy can be a trigger for pre-existing mental health issues to resurface or for mental health issues to develop for the first time. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, so be open and talk to people who can help you address any issues you may have. You can always contact us at any time to talk about how you are feeling.

Love,

Midwives Lelystad
Address: Badweg 21, 8223 PA Lelystad
Telephone: 085 40 19 095