Pregnancy and mental health

Finding out you’re pregnant

There’s no right or wrong way to feel when you find out that you’re pregnant.

For many people becoming pregnant is a dream come true. For others, finding out about a pregnancy can be surprising, upsetting or scary.

Everyone’s different, and your reactions and emotions will depend on your situation.

Visit the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website to:

Emotions during pregnancy

Hormonal changes along with your personal circumstances can make for an emotional time during pregnancy.

You might feel fluctuations in mood from elation and excitement to sadness, irritability or anxiety. Be kind to yourself. In most cases, these feelings will pass as your pregnancy progresses.

Learn about managing pregnancy emotions and mood swings on the ForWhen website.

Looking after yourself during pregnancy

Self-care is an important aspect of pregnancy. It’s not always easy to look after your mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy.

The key is to find strategies that feel right and achievable for you.

Find self-care strategies for new and expecting parents on the PANDA website.

Look after yourself during pregnancy with tips from the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) website.

Your relationship

If you have a partner, this is the start of a new type of relationship with them – a parenting partnership.

The thing that catches many new parents by surprise is changes in their relationship with their partner.

It’s important to take the time before the baby arrives to:

share your expectations of parenthood
agree on some principles for working together
communicate in positive ways.

This can strengthen your relationship.

Talking and listening well can help you and your partner connect, resolve issues and grow together into your new phase of life.

Discover pregnancy information for partners on the Raising Children website.

Find support for expectant dads on the PANDA website.

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Relationship conflict

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, it can be hard to figure things out from inside your relationship.

You could seek help by speaking to your GP to get a referral to a professional counselling service or confiding in a trusted family member or friend.

You could also contact a relationships helpline service, such as Family Relationships Online, Relationships Australia or MensLine Australia.

A harmful relationship with a partner can be difficult to cope with on your own. For domestic abuse counselling call 1800RESPECT or speak to your health practitioner. In an emergency, call 000.

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Cultural practices during pregnancy and birth

Illustration of woman thinking about holding her baby

Traditional, religious or cultural practices during pregnancy and birth are important to many people.

Often, hospitals provide birth services to support First Nations Peoples and multicultural communities. This includes access to interpreters.

Local health services, health workers and community groups also offer services to support culture during pregnancy and birth.

Find out more about cultural practices and pregnancy on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

Visit the Gidget Foundation website to find information about pregnancy care for First Nations expectant parents.

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.

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.

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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.

Antenatal depression and anxiety

Antenatal depression and anxiety is depression and anxiety that happens during pregnancy.

The symptoms of depression and anxiety in the antenatal period are similar to other times in our life. However, they’re complicated by the hormonal and lifestyle changes of pregnancy.

When symptoms persist and interfere with everyday life, it’s important to seek support.

Visit the PANDA website to take the mental health checklists for:

Get urgent support

Seek help immediately or call 000 if you are having thoughts of suicide or harming yourself.

Call the PANDA helpline (1300 726 306)Call Lifeline (13 11 14)

Signs and symptoms of antenatal depression

Antenatal depression is depression during pregnancy. It affects up to one in 10 women in Australia.

Some common symptoms include:

low mood or feeling numb
feeling hopeless, helpless, empty or sad
feelings of worthlessness
feeling unmotivated and unable to cope with a daily routine
often feeling close to tears
being angry, irritable or resentful
not being able to sleep (insomnia) or sleeping a lot
having nightmares
changes to appetite (not eating or over-eating)
loss of interest in things that you would normally enjoy
recurring negative thoughts
withdrawing from social contact
having thoughts about wanting to escape or get away from everything.

Find out more about depression symptoms on the PANDA website.

Signs and symptoms of antenatal anxiety

We all feel anxious sometimes.

During pregnancy you might already be feeling a bit more anxious than usual. It can be hard to know how much is ‘too much’.

If you’re experiencing an anxiety condition, you might find it difficult to get feelings of anxiety or nervousness under control.

Some signs to look for include:

anxiety or fear that interrupts your thoughts and interferes with daily tasks
panic attacks (outbursts of extreme fear and panic that are overwhelming and feel difficult to bring under control)
anxiety and worries that keep coming into your mind and are difficult to stop or control
constantly feeling irritable, restless or on edge
having tense muscles, a tight chest and heart palpitations
having tense muscles, a tight chest and heart palpitations
Taking a long time to fall asleep at night.

Find out more about anxiety symptoms on the PANDA website.

Looking after your mental health and wellbeing

Looking after your mental health and wellbeing can help you enjoy your pregnancy and care for your newborn.

If you’re unsettled or struggling with your mental health during pregnancy, seek support early.

You can talk to family, friends or a healthcare professional.

Take the anxiety and depression (K10) test.

Learn more about looking after your mental health and wellbeing.

Monitor and improve your sleep habits with our sleep checklist.

Get mental health support.

Supporting someone who’s pregnant

Some pregnant people may not realise they’re unsettled or struggling. Others may recognise how they’re feeling, but not know how to talk to anyone about it.

You can offer emotional support and practical help.

Find tips on how to talk to someone you're worried about.

Tips for partners

Remember that you are a support person, not a health professional. You don’t have to know everything or provide advice.

Spend time listening, without feeling the need to offer solutions.
Let your partner know how well they’re doing and support their self-care strategies.
Encourage your partner to see a health professional if you’re concerned about them.
Take time out and look after yourself too.

Visit the Centre for Perinatal Excellence (COPE) website to find more tips on how to support your partner.

Tips for family and friends

Remember that you are a support person, not a health professional. You don’t have to know everything or provide advice.

Be available to talk, in person, over the phone or online.
Make a meal or offer to help with grocery shopping, chores or housework.
Offer to help look after, drop off or pick up older children
Be aware that the expectant person might need time and space to deal with symptoms such as morning sickness or fatigue.

On this page

Finding out you’re pregnant

Emotions during pregnancy

Looking after yourself during pregnancy

Your relationship

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Further resources

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On this page

Finding out you’re pregnant

Emotions during pregnancy

Looking after yourself during pregnancy

Your relationship

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Relationship conflict

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Cultural practices during pregnancy and birth

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What can affect your mental health during pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy

Financial stress

Work and stress

Pregnancy loss

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Antenatal depression and anxiety

Get urgent support

Signs and symptoms of antenatal depression

Signs and symptoms of antenatal anxiety

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Looking after your mental health and wellbeing

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Supporting someone who’s pregnant

Tips for partners

Tips for family and friends

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Relationship conflict

Cultural practices during pregnancy and birth

What can affect your mental health during pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy

Financial stress

Work and stress

Pregnancy loss

Antenatal depression and anxiety

Get urgent support

Signs and symptoms of antenatal depression

Signs and symptoms of antenatal anxiety

Looking after your mental health and wellbeing

Supporting someone who’s pregnant

Tips for partners

Tips for family and friends