Perinatal Mental Health
Pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent can bring significant emotional challenges that sometimes take us by surprise.
While this period of life can be very rewarding, it can also bring overwhelming worry, low mood, self-doubt, a loss of confidence, or a feeling that you don’t quite recognise yourself.
When pregnancy or becoming a parent doesn’t feel the way you expected
Perinatal mental health refers to emotional and psychological wellbeing during pregnancy and the early years of parenthood. For many, this period brings significant changes to daily life, relationships, identity and expectations. Recovering from pregnancy and birth while adjusting to the demands of caring for a baby, often alongside disrupted sleep and reduced time and space for yourself, can place significant emotional demands on parents and contribute to emotional difficulties.
Feeling overwhelmed or anxious
Early parenthood brings new challenges, and can sometimes leave you feeling overwhelmed, irritable or constantly ‘on edge’ or unable to switch off.
You may experience anxiety about your baby or being a “good enough” parent, or experiencing intrusive or unwanted thoughts that feel distressing or out of character.
Feeling low or unlike your usual self
For many, having a baby can have a big impact on what life looks like. You may feel persistently low or sad, tearful, disconnected or withdrawn from those around you.
Depression during pregnancy or after having a baby can also involve a loss of confidence or sense of identity, alongside feelings of self-doubt, guilt or shame.
Coping with difficult experiences
Pregnancy and early parenthood sometimes bring experiences that are difficult to process, including a challenging pregnancy or pregnancy loss, fertility or conception difficulties, or a complicated or traumatic birth experience.
Previous trauma can also resurface during pregnancy or parenthood, while becoming parents can place new pressures on your relationships.
How psychological therapy can help
Psychological therapy or treatment can be helpful for antenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression, pregnancy-related anxiety or depression, birth trauma, or difficulties adjusting to parenthood.
We aim to provide a safe and supportive space to understand what you’re experiencing, develop strategies to manage difficult emotions or change unhelpful patterns, and work through difficult experiences that may be affecting you.
Depending on your individual needs, therapy may help with:
managing anxiety, worry and overwhelm
improving mood and confidence
adjusting to the changes of parenthood
working through difficult or traumatic experiences
developing more compassionate and realistic expectations of yourself
Support can be helpful at any stage. If pregnancy, birth or becoming a parent hasn’t felt the way you expected, you don’t have to manage it on your own.
Discover Clinical Psychology offers perinatal psychological support in Gordon, on Sydney’s North Shore, and online via Telehealth.