Planning a baby after perinatal anxiety, depression or postnatal psychosis
People who have experienced perinatal anxiety or depression or postnatal psychosis may be at increased risk of experiencing mental health issues with another child. It’s important you plan ahead if you decide to have another baby.
Many parents who have previously been affected by perinatal anxiety or depression or postnatal psychosis decide they want to have more children.
There’s no way of knowing whether you will experience mental health challenges with second and subsequent pregnancies.
The fact is, if you’ve had a previous experience of a mental health condition – any mental health issue, including perinatal anxiety or depression or postnatal psychosis – you’re at increased risk of experiencing difficulties with your emotional and mental health when you become a parent. This is true whether it is your first, second or fifth baby.
The flip side to this is that a previous experience of perinatal mental ill-health doesn’t mean you’ll experience the same with each pregnancy. Some people adjust well to having their first child only to experience mental health issues with their second. Others might have a challenging experience with their first baby, make a full recovery, then go on to have more children without mental health relapse. Everyone’s experience is unique.
Preparation, having a plan, and putting supports in place well before of pregnancy is the best strategy to try to minimise and manage your mental and emotional health, especially if you have previously experienced depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.
“IT CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING AND SCARY GETTING PREGNANT AGAIN WHEN YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.”
Strategies for seeking help
PANDA often receives calls on our National Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Helpline from expecting parents who have previously experienced emotional distress during the perinatal period and are concerned it may happen again with their second and subsequent pregnancies.
If you’ve received mental health treatment and developed strategies to manage your emotional wellbeing – in other words, developed an effective ‘toolkit’ to help you cope –you may feel better-equipped and more confident in dealing with any symptoms should they arise again.
Some parents believe they may have previously experienced perinatal anxiety or depression that was not diagnosed or treated, and may feel deep sadness, resentment or anger about their experience.
PANDA’s National Helpline supports you to explore your feelings about what happened before, and help you plan what you will do if you experience the same difficult feelings or challenges with a second or subsequent pregnancy.
Whether you previously accessed mental health support or managed everything by yourself, it’s important to plan how you will now plan for and manage any potential mental health challenges ahead of time.
Some contributors to perinatal mental ill-health may be outside your control.
Some of these contributing factors include:
- Family or personal history of anxiety or depression
- Traumatic birth
- Birth disappointment
- Relationship difficulties
- Controlling or abusive behaviour
- Family violence
- Stressful life events
- Stressful or complicated pregnancy
- Fertility issues or previous pregnancy loss
- History of abuse
- Lack of social support
- Financial difficulties
If you’ve experienced a previous mental health challenge and are planning to become a parent again, it can be helpful to be aware of any changes in your mental health over time.
If you do start to feel unwell, remember that reaching out for support from loved ones, health professionals or organisations like PANDA is not cause for shame or a sign of weakness, but an indication that you are trying to do what’s best for your family.
PANDA counsellors can help you explore and understand what supports might be most effective, and suits to you and your family’s unique personal needs. If changes to your mental health are affecting your wellbeing, relationships or ability to function in daily life, it’s time to seek support.
“Preparation, having a plan, and putting supports in place well in advance of pregnancy was the best strategy manage my mental and emotional health.”
Use the support available
One of the advantages of being a pregnant woman is that it’s a stage of life when you’re usually provided with more health care than at other times. Being pregnant often means you’ll be seeing health professionals such as doctors, midwives and others who support expecting families through pregnancy and birth. Support may happen through your hospital or in your community.
Health professionals supporting you during your pregnancy and after the birth can advise you on the range of treatment options available if you feel like you need some extra help. Try to take advantage of this. If you experience any symptoms, thoughts or feelings that concern you, speak to a health professional at one of your scheduled appointments, or make a new appointment as soon as you notice any changes to your mental health, emotional wellbeing or daily function.
You can also fill out one of PANDA’s Mental Health Checklists for Expecting and New Parents. PANDA’s Checklists have been designed to help you monitor and understand your emotional and mental wellbeing during pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. The results page you receive after completing your checklist can also help you speak to your health professional about any thoughts or feelings that concern you.
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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.
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