Nearly all new parents have good and bad days.
By Tracy McBeth | Writer
Nearly all new parents have good and bad days.
Seek help if you’re worried about your mental health.
6 minute read
Published 11 April 2024
Perinatal depression and anxiety are common.
Perinatal depression is depression that occurs during and after pregnancy. Perinatal depression and/or anxiety affects one in 5 new mums, and up to one in 10 new dads.1
“This is a time of enormous change,” says PANDA CEO Julie Borninkhof. “Mental health and wellbeing can fluctuate a lot during pregnancy and early parenthood. It’s really important you talk about any changes in mood or behaviour with your health care provider.”
Perinatal mental health issues can have a big impact on the wellbeing of the whole family, so it’s important to spot the signs early and seek help.
The perinatal period (pregnancy through to 12 months after having a baby) is a major life transition. It can affect you emotionally, physically and psychologically.
Many people experience:
“The earlier we can support a family who are experiencing perinatal mental health challenges, the better the outcomes may be. This isn’t just for the parents, but also for the baby and other children in the family,” says Borninkhof.
Earlier treatment can reduce severity of distress and symptoms. It can also give expecting and new parents coping strategies and effective support.
“Early intervention may facilitate better long-term outcomes for the individual and family.”
“Research suggests that all parents may be impacted by changes to their mental health. This includes sleep deprivation, changes in their relationships and the challenges of becoming a new parent. When parents are building a relationship with their baby, it may take time for everyone in the family to adjust and find a new ‘normal’.”
It’s normal for new and expecting parents to have good and bad days. However, if your systems are lingering, getting worse or interfering with your daily life, you need to speak to someone about how you’re feeling.
Seek help if you’re:
“The severity of perinatal anxiety and depression depends on the intensity, frequency and type of symptoms. It’s also related to how much they interfere with your ability to function in daily life,” says Borninkhof.
Signs of perinatal anxiety include:
Signs of perinatal depression include:
Perinatal mental health challenges can affect anyone. However, there are some risk factors which might make you more prone to perinatal anxiety or depression.
These may include:
Research shows perinatal anxiety and depression is common.
“The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is widely used by GPs, child health nurses and other healthcare providers in the Australian perinatal mental health sector,” says Borninkhof.
If you’re concerned about your mental or emotional wellbeing, please check in with your GP, nurse or healthcare provider. They can help you explore the care options available.
If you think you or a loved one might need help help, check out PANDA’s online mental health checklist.
“The sooner people seek support, the sooner they can start to feel better,” says Borninkhof.
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) supports the mental health of parents and families online and on the phone at 1300 726 306.
Beyond Blue offers 24/7 mental health information and support online and on the phone at 1300 224 636.
Lifeline Australia offers 24/7 crisis support online and on the phone at 13 11 14.
Our health and wellbeing information is regularly reviewed and maintained by a team of healthcare experts, to ensure its relevancy and accuracy. Everyone's health journey is unique and health outcomes vary from person to person.
This content is not a replacement for personalised and specific medical, healthcare, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your health, see your doctor or other health professional.
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1PANDA. (2024). Perinatal Anxiety and Depression: Signs and Symptoms. PANDA.
2PANDA. (2024). Contributing factors to postnatal anxiety and depression. PANDA.
