Your emotional wellbeing during pregnancy

Your health is important, both during pregnancy and afterwards. Health doesn't just mean your physical health — your emotional wellbeing is really important too. There are many tips and steps you can take to feel physically and emotionally at your best in pregnancy.

Many women are worried about the impact a baby will have on their lives and how they will cope with all the changes ahead. These worries might include:

Talk to someone

• Becoming a mother—will I be good enough?
• Will I stop work?
• Will my relationship with my partner and family and friends change?
• Do I have enough support to help me be the best mum I can be?
• Will my pregnancy progress normally?
• What if there are problems with the baby?
• What will giving birth be like—can I do it?

Depression and anxiety in pregnancy

All of these anxieties are common and normal. Talking to other people and sharing your feelings can be reassuring. For some women depression and anxiety can be a problem in pregnancy—about 1 in 10 women will experience some degree of anxiety or depression. Some woman will have a pre-existing mental illness or may have had an illness in the past.

Being pregnant, no matter how happy you may be, will not protect you from becoming unwell during or after pregnancy. If you are one of this group of women, talk to your midwife, GP or other health professional for advice and an individualised plan