Although anyone can experience mental health problems during or after pregnancy, some mothers are at greater risk of becoming unwell and less likely to receive the care they need. This is particularly true for women of colour, young mothers, and those experiencing multiple disadvantages such as domestic abuse, poverty, insecure housing and addiction.
Antenatal depression
Antenatal depression is a type of depression seen during pregnancy. Symptoms include a very low mood, tearfulness and irritability.
Dorset has specialist mental health teams to support people who are pregnant or who have just given birth and are experiencing serious mental health symptoms. These services generally require a referral from your doctor.
Postnatal depression
Postnatal depression is a type of depression seen after giving birth. It’s a deeper and longer-term depression than the ‘baby blues’, which is a brief period of low mood that happens three to ten days after giving birth. Postnatal depression usually develops within six weeks after having a baby.
Postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis can affect someone soon after having a baby. It is a serious mental illness with symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, mania, depression or confusion and should be treated as a mental health emergency.
Perinatal OCD and anxiety
Perinatal OCD and anxiety is a more serious condition than worrying about your baby’s wellbeing. If you start to experience obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours that affect your daily life you may have perinatal OCD.
Birth trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Birth trauma and PTSD can happen when you go through a frightening, stressful or distressing event related to giving birth. Sometimes labour or birth can be traumatic and cause PTSD. This may be because of a painful birth or unplanned or emergency treatment.
Symptoms can include flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares and physical symptoms like pain, nausea and trembling.
Bi-polar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, ranging from periods of intense highs (mania or hypomania) to periods of deep lows (depression). Women with bipolar disorder may experience illness during pregnancy, but they are especially at risk of becoming unwell after childbirth.
Baby loss
The loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy is an extremely distressing experience, and you will need support. Dorset Maternity Services have teams of midwives who specialise in providing support and advice to those who have lost a baby, either during their pregnancy or after birth.
