Ooof. So common, yet often not openly acknowledged or discussed. Pregnancy can be a stressful time with a mountain of uncertainty. Not to mention, being pregnant during a global pandemic. Hormonal changes sometimes increase emotional challenges and can cause you to become anxious. Past unsuccessful pregnancies can lead to increased anxiety as well. The nature of the anxiety can also change throughout each trimester, starting off with fear of losing baby to fears surrounding labour and delivery. The good news is, you can learn how to manage pregnancy anxiety to reduce negative effects and allow you to enjoy your pregnancy journey.

Maybe you struggled with low mood prior to pregnancy, or started feeling depressed during pregnancy. You are not alone and pregnancy depression can be treated. Common feelings can be extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that is beyond typical pregnancy symptoms. This may make it difficult for you to carry out daily tasks— including caring for yourself or others. If you are noticing that your depression symptoms are persisting for 2 weeks or more, consult with your health professional. You are not to blame for perinatal depression, and there is not one cause of depression. Life stress, and the physical and emotional demands of being pregnant can contribute to the development of perinatal depression. Women can be at greater risk of developing perinatal depression if there is a personal or family history of depression or bipolar disorder, or if you had pre-existing depression/depression with a previous pregnancy.

You are allowed to have these! Joy doesn’t always follow a positive pregnancy test. Depending on where you are at in your current life situation, it may be hard to accept or understand what this means to you—and this is okay! Through seeking help, you can process your emotions surrounding pregnancy and find peace in what your future holds.

The ultimate goal is to reach out for help in a proactive manner (i.e. before emotional problems arise) when it comes to your mental health, especially during the perinatal period. The transition to Motherhood is physically, emotionally and relationally challenging. Seeking professional help can support and guide you through this delicate time.