Anxiety in pregnancy and after the birth
When worry becomes more than worry, what anxiety looks like in body and mind, what helps and why you should not keep it to yourself.
4 min read
In this article
Some worry in pregnancy and with a newborn is normal. Anxiety is different: worry that does not go away, is hard to control and affects daily life. According to the WHO, around 1 in 10 pregnant women and more than 1 in 10 new mothers have a mental health condition, most often depression or anxiety. It can be treated.
Anxiety is often brushed aside with words like “do not be sad, you should be happy, you are pregnant”. This keeps many women quiet, because they feel guilty for not being happy. Anxiety has nothing to do with how much you love your baby.
What it looks like
In your mind
- constant worry about the pregnancy, the birth or your baby
- thoughts that repeat and that you cannot shake off
- difficulty concentrating
- feeling judged by others
- poor sleep, even when your baby is asleep
In your body
- a pounding or racing heart
- dizziness or feeling faint
- tension in your body, grinding your teeth, even in your sleep
- sometimes, panic attacks: sudden, intense fear, with a racing heart, fast breathing and a sense that something terrible is happening
What helps
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1
Talk
To your partner, a friend, your mother, or other women in the same situation. Putting it into words takes some of the weight off.
-
2
Slow breathing
Breathe in through your nose counting to 4, out through your mouth counting to 6. Repeat for a few minutes.
-
3
Movement
A daily walk, swimming or pregnancy yoga lowers tension in the body.
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4
Less searching online
Reading rare, frightening stories on forums feeds anxiety. Take your questions to your doctor.
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5
Sleep and help
Accept help with your baby so you can sleep. Tiredness makes anxiety worse.
Treatment
If you feel anxious most of the time, talk to your gynaecologist, family doctor or midwife. The most common treatment is talking therapy, especially cognitive behavioural therapy, which teaches you to notice and calm the thoughts that feed anxiety. It can also be done online.
When anxiety is severe, your doctor may also discuss medicines, weighing the benefits and risks in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you already take medicine for anxiety, do not stop it yourself: talk to your doctor.
Get help straight away
If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, feel you cannot go on, or someone close to you is behaving completely unlike themselves after the birth, call 127 or go to emergency care. You are not to blame and you are not alone.
For low mood after the birth, read baby blues and postnatal depression.
Common questions
Is it normal to feel anxious in pregnancy?
Does anxiety harm my baby?
Can I take medicine for anxiety in pregnancy?
Sources we consulted
- NHS: Anxiety in pregnancy
- WHO: Maternal mental health
Written by the mam.al editors as general information. It does not replace advice from your doctor or psychologist. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.