Perinatal Mental Health
Support Through Pregnancy and Beyond
The journey to parenthood is often portrayed as a time of pure joy. The reality is more complex. Alongside the wonder, many people experience significant emotional challenges - during pregnancy, after birth, or both.
Perinatal Mental Health Difficulties
Perinatal mental health covers the period from conception through the first year after birth. Common difficulties include:
Antenatal depression and anxiety: Low mood, persistent worry, or fear during pregnancy. Concerns about the birth, the baby’s health, or your ability to cope.
Postnatal depression: More than “baby blues” - a persistent low mood that doesn’t lift. Feeling overwhelmed, tearful, hopeless, or disconnected.
Postnatal anxiety: Constant worry about the baby’s safety or wellbeing. Difficulty sleeping even when the baby sleeps. Physical tension and racing thoughts.
Intrusive thoughts: Unwanted, distressing thoughts about harm coming to your baby. These are surprisingly common and don’t mean you’ll act on them - but they can be deeply frightening.
Birth trauma: When the experience of giving birth leaves lasting psychological wounds. Flashbacks, nightmares, or avoiding reminders of the birth.
Bonding difficulties: Feeling detached from your baby, or struggling to experience the connection you expected.
You’re Not Alone - And It’s Not Your Fault
Perinatal mental health difficulties affect a significant proportion of new parents - estimates suggest one in five mothers and one in ten fathers. Yet shame and stigma often keep people silent.
Contributing factors can include:
- Hormonal and physical changes
- Sleep deprivation
- Complicated or traumatic birth experiences
- Previous mental health difficulties
- Relationship strain
- Lack of support
- Pressure to be a “perfect parent”
- Previous pregnancy loss
Whatever the cause, struggling doesn’t make you a bad parent. It makes you human.
How We Can Help
Our Clinical Psychologists offer sensitive, specialist support:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for depression, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts - understanding and shifting the patterns that maintain distress.
EMDR for birth trauma and past experiences affecting your current wellbeing.
Compassion-Focused Therapy when harsh self-judgement or guilt are prominent.
Parent-infant work to support bonding and the developing relationship with your baby.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help you build a meaningful parenting experience alongside difficult feelings.
We provide a confidential, non-judgemental space where you can be honest about your struggles without fear of being seen as an inadequate parent.
Seeking Help Is Strength
Getting support during the perinatal period benefits you and your baby. Treatment can ease your distress, strengthen your relationship with your child, and help you find your feet as a parent.
Reach out when you’re ready to talk.
Related Reading
- Perinatal Mental Health: Managing Pre and Postnatal Anxiety - Understanding anxiety during pregnancy and early parenthood
- Postnatal PTSD: When Life After Birth Feels Traumatic - Recognising and healing from birth trauma
- Why Support Beyond the First Year Matters - Extended perinatal mental health support
