Antenatal anxiety and depression symptoms can vary a lot for each expecting parent. Many expecting parents experience a mixed mood including both depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety symptoms can negatively affect your daily life and enjoyment of your pregnancy. If you feel like people expect you to be rapt about having a baby but you’re overwhelmed and worried, it can feel scary and vulnerable to tell anyone how you’re really feeling.
“I didn’t feel I could talk about it either because I thought it wasn’t normal to feel like this when it was supposed to be such a ‘joyous and happy’ time and I couldn’t possibly feel like this.”
“I always worried that something was wrong, or that something would go wrong, and about if I would be a good mother and love my baby.”
It can feel overwhelming and scary to share these thoughts and feelings with anyone, but you shouldn’t have to carry the weight of antenatal anxiety alone. It’s important for those around you to be aware of what you’re going through so they can support you to get help and relief from the distress of antenatal anxiety.
“I put any negative feelings down to hormones, I realise now that it went beyond the normal worry and stress of pregnancy. I found myself quickly all consumed by doubt and fear all the time.”
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms (or any others) that are affecting your daily function and mental and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy, it’s time to have a chat with someone. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking with family and friends just yet, you can call PANDA.
We’ll listen, give you more information and can help you link in with antenatal mental health supports in your area.
Common signs and symptoms of antenatal anxiety can include
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Anxiety and mood
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Anxiety and behaviour
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Anxiety and relationships
Stories
Mental health checklist
How are you going?
Everyone’s experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is unique and brings different rewards and challenges. Our mental health checklist can help you to see if what you’re experiencing or observing in a loved one could be reason to seek help.