Perinatal emotional wellbeing
Recognize stress, anxiety and depression and build a support system.
Important: This content is educational and does not replace diagnosis or advice from a doctor, obstetric clinician or midwife.
Mental health is part of maternity care
Anxiety and depression can occur before, during or after pregnancy and can be supported and treated.
When to speak up early
Feeling low or worried most days, losing interest, panic, sleep problems or difficulty managing daily care are reasons to contact a healthcare professional.
When urgent help is needed
A severe mental health crisis, hallucinations, delusions, extreme agitation or losing touch with reality requires urgent medical assessment.
Build a support plan
Write down who can help with chores, transport, nighttime support and which nearby healthcare service you can contact when needed.
Medical sources
See the source list and review date on Medical sources.