Depression occurs in up to 1 in 10 women during pregnancy, and in up to 1 in 7 women after the birth of a baby. Men are also affected by postnatal depression.

Certain factors, such as mental health history, complicated pregnancy or birth, or having an unwell or unsettled baby can increase the likelihood of developing perinatal depression.

Depression can be described as a persistently low mood. Low motivation and negative thoughts are common signs of depression in the perinatal period, but people may experience any range of physical and emotional symptoms. These symptoms are often so exhausting that they can create a cycle that is hard to overcome. Anxiety can also occur at the same time as depression.

All parents are likely to experience some symptoms of postnatal depression at times, particularly when emotionally and physically exhausted.  If you experience symptoms that are impacting your daily life for longer than 2 weeks, we encourage you to discuss this with a health professional. Your GP is a great place to start as they can look into whether you might benefit from clinical treatment, and inform you about the options that are available to you.

At Perinatal Wellbeing Centre, we can support you to find your way through depression and learn new ways to care for yourself. We can work with you to find the strategies that work best for you.