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Antenatal depression: Signs and symptoms

Are depression symptoms interfering with your ability to enjoy your life and pregnancy?

Pregnant mum sitting on outdoor bench holding her belly

Antenatal depression and anxiety symptoms can be different for each expecting parent. Many expecting parents experience a mixed mood that includes both depressed and anxious symptoms.

Depression symptoms can affect your daily life and enjoyment of your pregnancy. If you feel like people expect you to be over the moon about having a baby on the way but you’re struggling, it can feel difficult to be honest about how you’re really feeling and coping.

“I thought to myself – this can’t be normal. I’ve got every reason to be happy. But I wasn’t.”

Antenatal depression is common and affects up to 1 in 5 expecting mums and up to 1 in 10 expecting dads. If you’ve been experiencing any of the symptoms below, it’s a good idea to talk to someone about how you’re feeling.

Helpful Information

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Common signs and symptoms of antenatal depression

1

Changes to mood

2

Changes to behaviour

3

Changes to relationships

Getting help

It can feel hard to share these thoughts and feelings. But it’s important for those around you to be aware of what you’re going through. Then they can support you to get help and some relief from antenatal depression.

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 a good idea to talk to someone.

If you don’t feel comfortable speaking with family and friends about what’s happening, 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.

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Mental health checklist

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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.

Checklist for

Expecting Mums
Expecting Dads and Non-birth Parents
New Mums
New Dads and Non-birth Parents
Partners and Carers
PANDA National Helpline

Find someone to talk to, Monday to Saturday.

1300 726 306

Call 000 for police and ambulance if you or someone else are in immediate danger

Talk with friends or family

Consider talking about how you are feeling with someone you trust. This might be a friend or family member. Once you starting talking you might be surprised at how many others have had similar experiences and the support they can provide you.

Talk with your doctor

Talking with your doctor can be an important step to getting the help you need. They should be able to give you non-judgemental support, assessment, diagnosis, and ongoing care and treatment. They can also refer you to specialists such as a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist.

Get help now

If you are having suicidal thoughts or are feeling disorientated it’s important to get help immediately. PANDA is not a crisis service, if you need immediate support call Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7).

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While PANDA has exercised due care in ensuring the accuracy of the material contained on this website, the information is made available on the basis that PANDA is not providing professional advice on a particular matter. This website is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this website is intended to be used as medical advice, nor should it be used as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

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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 a reason to seek help.