What can affect your mental health during pregnancy
We can’t prepare for everything when it comes to pregnancy and birth.
When you’re pregnant and facing adversity, it’s important to reach out to trusted family and friends, your community and social supports.
This can help you make sense of what’s happening, get support and heal.
Complications during the pregnancy
Giving birth is different for everyone. Things often don’t go to plan.
Some of the things that can impact on your mental health include complications during pregnancy. For example, gestational diabetes or severe vomiting.
Other unexpected events can also affect your wellbeing. This includes a pregnancy and birth that involves more medical intervention, more pain or time than expected or in which you didn’t feel heard.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions from your healthcare team so you can understand how your pregnancy is progressing.
Visit the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website to:
Teenage pregnancy
A pregnant teenager will need to make decisions about their education, work and financial support while they’re still growing and developing themselves.
They’ll also experience thoughts and feelings about how their pregnancy will impact their relationships and their future.
Pregnant teens need extra support to maintain their health and wellbeing.
Learn about mentoring support for pregnant young people and young parents by the Brave Foundation.
Find out about financial support for teen parents on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.
Financial stress
Having a baby will impact your finances. In addition to the new set of expenses, most families experience a dip in household income.
Often, factors including stigma, shame and social relationships can get in the way of speaking about and addressing financial challenges.
For free, national phone financial counselling if you're having financial difficulties, you can call the National Debt Helpline.
Learn more about financial wellbeing and mental health.
Work and stress
You might find that having a family puts work into perspective now you’ve got another human on the way.
At the same time, the pressure of providing for your family can make work seem even more important.
This juggling act, and the expectations and demands from each side, can impact on your mental health.
Learn about your rights at work around flexible working arrangements on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Get tips on managing work, stress and mental health.
Pregnancy loss
Pregnancy loss at any stage can cause emotions such as numbness, anger, disbelief and guilt.
The grief from pregnancy loss is often underestimated. Counselling and support services can help with recovery.
If you’ve lost a baby, your hospital can provide you with a list of support services.
Find bereavement support after pregnancy loss on the SANDS website.
Find articles and videos about coping after losing a pregnancy or having a stillbirth on the Raising Children Network website.
Understand more about miscarriage at the Gidget Foundation.