Having another baby brings big changes
Even when change is positive, it can still be challenging. Having mixed and complex emotions as your family grows, but these can be confronting emotions to manage.
If your feelings are worrying you or affecting your ability to function in daily life, you may be experiencing symptoms of antenatal anxiety or depression. This is nothing to be ashamed of, perinatal mental health concerns are common.
Here you'll find information that can help you understand the things you might be thinking and feeling.
Coping with strong emotions
Prioritise your emotional wellbeing
Parenthood is a time of transformation and change. Sometimes the intensity of mixed emotions can leave you feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
It may feel tempting to push strong unwanted feelings aside or deny them altogether. Yet these emotions don’t disappear - often they simmer under the surface and grow stronger.
When we sit with strong and uncomfortable emotions, they gradually begin to feel less intense and scary. Learning to sit with strong emotions instead of pushing them away or numbing them can be hard work, and it takes practice.
Find out more and learn strategies to help you cope.
Signs and symptoms
Understanding what you're feeling
Perinatal (during pregnancy and after birth) anxiety and depression symptoms can be different for each expecting and new parent. Many experience a mixed mood that includes both depressed and anxious symptoms.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below (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 postnatal mental health supports in your area.
Perinatal anxiety
The combination and severity of symptoms will be different for every parent.
1
Changes to mood
2
Changes to behaviour
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Changes to relationships
Perinatal depression
The combination and severity of symptoms will be different for every parent.
1
Changes to mood
2
Changes to behaviour
3
Changes to relationships
Calling the PANDA Helpline
What happens when I call the PANDA Helpline?
PANDA is a national telephone counselling service delivered by professional counsellors and dedicated peer support volunteers with a lived experienceof perinatal mental health issues.
When you call PANDA, we’ll provide a safe, caring and confidential space for you to talk through any concerns you may have as an expecting or new parent, or support person.
Mental health checklist
How are you going?
Everyone’s experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is unique and brings different rewards and challenges.
Complete our online mental health checklist to see if what you’re experiencing or observing in a loved one could be a reason to seek help.
Information for growing families
Real life stories
PANDA CHATBOT
Chat to Dot
Meet Dot. They’re here to support you to explore your mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy and as a new parent.
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).