Welcome! You're not alone here.
An estimated one in five pregnant and postpartum people struggle with their mental health, but mood and anxiety changes during and after a pregnancy can affect anyone, including mothers, fathers, birth parents and partners.
Symptoms range from mild to severe and can be different for everyone. Be sure to talk to your health care provider about your mental health and well-being during prenatal and postnatal visits.
The good news is help is available, and when you reach out for support, it gets better.
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Baby Blues
Also known as postpartum blues, the baby blues happen within a couple of days after birth, and usually go away on their own within two weeks. Four in five birth parents will have the baby blues. Partners can also experience emotional hardships.
Symptoms may include:
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weepy periods and mood swings
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irritability
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fatigue
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anxiety
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confusion
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appetite disturbances
Reach out to your partner, family and friends for support, and take care of yourself by resting and eating healthy foods.
If symptoms continue after two weeks, talk to your health care provider.
If you do not have health care provider, please visit a local walk-in clinic or access a virtual clinic.
Perinatal Mental Health Disorders
The perinatal period includes pregnancy, post-loss, and 12 months postpartum (source: PSI, 2023).
There are many different forms of mental health disorders you might experience during pregnancy and after the birth of a child. They may be mild, moderate or severe.Visit our Mental Health Services page or click the links provided above to find the support you need.
Perinatal Depression |
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Perinatal depression may start during pregnancy or any time up to one year after the birth of a child. One person's experience with perinatal depression may look different from another's.
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Perinatal Anxiety |
Symptoms may include:
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Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) |
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OCD is a type of anxiety disorder. Perinatal OCD is when you experience OCD during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. Symptoms may include:
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Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) |
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PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder, often caused by a traumatic or frightening childbirth or past trauma. Symptoms may include:
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Postpartum Psychosis |
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Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency. Seek help immediately.The onset of postpartum psychosis is often sudden within the first two weeks after giving birth, but it can occur anytime in the first year. Symptoms may include:
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Check out the New Dad Manual on a website that is for dads, by dads.
Fathers' Mental Health
Fathers and non-birthing parents can also experience mood changes during pregnancy and/or after the baby is born. Most symptoms of depression are the same for men and women, but they may look different for men. Some common symptoms of depression in men are:
- mood swings
- anger and irritability
- physical symptoms like headaches or fatigue
- hyperactive behaviour
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Take time for yourself
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Get counselling
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Consider medication
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Be patient. It takes time for recovery.
Get started.
Take the first step toward feeling better by connecting with the care you deserve.
If you're having thoughts of suicide, or harm to self or others, call 911.
“I felt this wave of relief. Maybe I wasn’t overthinking this. Maybe I didn’t need to feel like this. I went to the doctor’s on Monday and was diagnosed with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety.”
- Ellen’s story, Stories of Hope - Let's Talk About It
What can family and friends do?
- Listen and support their feelings.
- Encourage them to seek professional help.
- Develop your relationship with the baby.
- Ask them how you can help.
- Educate yourself about perinatal mood disorders.
- Take some time for yourself.
- Find someone to talk to.
- Don’t take Perinatal Mood Disorder personally. It's not anyone’s fault.
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