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Mental Wellbeing before and after having a baby

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Support to stay well before, during and after your pregnancy

Having a baby is a big life event and it can be really difficult to feel able to talk openly about how you are feeling when you become a new parent. It’s natural to feel a range of emotions during pregnancy, and after birth. But if difficult feelings start to have a big effect on your day to day life, you might be experiencing a perinatal mental health problem. It's important to ask for help or support if you need it, and you're likely to find that many new parents are feeling the same way.


You can find more information on perinatal mental health from MIND here


What is Perinatal Mental Health?

Are you expecting a baby, a new parent, or know someone who is?


Having a baby can be a wonderful time, pregnancy and parenthood can be exciting, but it can also be challenging.
Mental health does not discriminate. It can affect everyone, regardless of where you live, your family makeup, or your personal circumstances.


You may hear professionals talk about 'perinatal mental health'

Perinatal means the period of time from when you or your partner became pregnant, and up to two years after birth.

Perinatal mental health problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first two years after birth.
For some people this will be a new mental health problem, but for others it may be a history of mental health problems that become worse during this time.


What are the signs and symptoms of Perinatal Mental Health?

Perinatal Mental Health can affect mums, dads, and all co parents, and there are some things to look out for in yourself, your partner, or someone you know, that might mean they need some support.

This includes:

  • Feeling down, depressed or hopeless
  • Feeling like you’re losing control
  • Worrying about the past or future
  • Finding it hard to sleep
  • Struggling to concentrate
  • Feeling argumentative or irritable
  • Struggling to connect with your bump or your baby
  • Worried you do not feel the same as others, or that you are not enjoying being a parent
  • Feeling guilty or blaming yourself for things
  • Avoiding going out or seeing other people
  • Feeling worried about your own or your baby’s health
  • Having thoughts of wanting to harm yourself or others
  • And non specific body aches and pains

If you are experiencing several of these, on most days, you may need some support.

You're not alone. Help is available.

Speak to someone you trust. This could be your family and friends, your Midwife, Health Visitor, GP, or your Barnsley Family Hub.

You can contact your health visitor on 01226 774411 and visit their web page for more information :

💻 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service



You can also find local services for support further down this page.


Facts about Perinatal Mental Health

If perinatal mental illness is left untreated, this can have significant and long-lasting effect on families.


  • We know that 1 in 4 new and expectant mums, and up to 1 in 5 dads will experience perinatal mental illness
  • About 70% of women may downplay or hide the severity of their feelings.
  • Mums from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities may experience higher rates of postnatal depression and anxiety than other groups
  • Single mums are about three times more likely to experience periods of depression compared to other groups.
  • New dads are more likely to develop anxiety during the perinatal period, if they are a new dad and haven’t taken care of a baby previously
  • 1-2 in 1000 women will develop a serious mental illness in the postnatal period, which is a medical emergency. You can find more information on postpartum psychosis through Action on Postpartum Psychosis 



Why is it important to bond with your baby?

Children thrive when they feel safe, loved and nurtured, and bonding with your baby lays the ground for children to grow up happy, independent adults.


For many parents, forming a close bond with their child comes easily, but for many others it can be much more of a struggle. Parenting can be difficult at times, but there is no such thing as a perfect parent.


The good news is that parenting skills can be learned, and Barnsley family hubs offer support to families during and after pregnancy.
You can access a range of free groups and parenting programmes at our Family Hubs. You can also access online antenatal courses for free here.

These can all be accessed by mums, dads, parents, and carers living in Barnsley.

Staying healthy during pregnancy

Maintaining good physical health before, during, and after pregnancy is very important for both mum and the baby.


🔎 Find out more:
To find out about, quitting smoking during pregnancy, maintaining a healthy weight and nutrition information, visit the



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