Postnatal anxiety

On this page:

What is postnatal anxiety?

How common is postnatal anxiety?

What are the symptoms of postnatal anxiety?

What causes postnatal anxiety?

What is the difference between postnatal anxiety and postnatal depression?

What can I do if I think I have postnatal anxiety?

What are the treatments for postnatal anxiety?

Your relationship with your baby

How can I manage my postnatal anxiety symptoms?

More advice and support

What is postnatal anxiety?

Many people who have given birth will experience mild mood changes after having a baby. This is sometimes known as the ‘baby blues’ and usually only lasts for a few days.  

​​​​However, postnatal anxiety is different to the baby blues. It is a mental health condition.  ​​​

​​​​The main symptom of anxiety is having feelings of stress or worry that affect your daily life and are difficult to control. ​​ ​​​

​​​​Feeling anxious at certain times is normal for most people. It’s especially common to have some anxiety during big life events or changes, such as having a baby. For example, in the early weeks after giving birth, ​​you may worry that something will happen to the baby or that you will do something wrong. ​T​hese​ feelings​ tend to get less intense as you start to get used to taking care of a newborn.​

​​Postnatal anxiety​ (anxiety that develops after having a baby) ​is different in that it tends to be more distressing and ​doesn’t pass after a few weeks​.​ You might find it difficult to control worries. Feelings of anxiety may become more constant and stop you from living your daily life how you want to.

There are different types of anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions that can happen as well as it. ​Some parents may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), perhaps because they had a traumatic birth.

Some people ​develop obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours because of their worries or anxieties. They may also have ​intrusive thoughts of accidental or intentional harm coming to the baby. Passing thoughts like this are common when you have a newborn and tend to lessen over time. If they are constant and do not ease, reach out to your midwife or doctor for support as it could be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). 

Anxiety can also be part of postpartum psychosis​.​ ​However, this condition is rare and affects around 1 in 1000 people after giving birth. The condition also ​involves lots of other symptoms that are not found in anxiety problems. Find out more about postpartum psychosis.

How common is postnatal anxiety?

You may already know that you can become depressed after having a baby (known as postnatal depression). But postnatal anxiety is also common. It affects around 15 in 100 women and birthing people.

​Some people may experience depression and anxiety together. In general, u​p to 1 in 5 women develop mental health problems during pregnancy or in the first year after childbirth, including anxiety. ​There are lots of different treatment options to make sure that people with mental health problems get the right support​.

D​ads and partners​ can develop anxiety during their partner’s pregnancy and afterwards too. Having a new baby is a huge life change that can affect any parent in both positive and negative ways. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re finding it difficult to adjust. 

What are the symptoms of postnatal anxiety?

​​Anxiety can cause both physical and psychological (mental) symptoms. These can vary from person to person. ​It may ​also ​be difficult to spot some symptoms of anxiety because they are similar to common things most new parents feel. For example, you may have trouble concentrating or sleeping. 

If you have anxiety, you may also feel:

• anxious all or most of the time and not be able to control it
• overly worried (for example, about your baby)
• a sense of dread
• irritable, restless or like you can't focus.

You may also have physical symptoms like feeling light-headed or dizzy, having tense muscles, having stomach problems, sweating, shaking, and heart palpitations (when you feel like your heart is beating faster than normal).

Anxiety can affect your behaviour. ​You might find that you do things to help you feel more in control of your worries or fears. ​For example, you might avoid certain places​ or ​doing certain things​. ​​You may ​even ​ignore​​ ​certain feelings because they feel threatening. You may be being overly careful​, for example, checking on your baby very often, and asking for ​reassurance again and again from loved ones or healthcare professionals

Some people who have anxiety can also have panic attacks. These can come on very quickly and for no apparent reason. Most panic attacks last for between 5 and 20 minutes, but they can last for up to an hour. They can be very frightening, but they are not dangerous. During a panic attack, you get a rush of intense mental and physical symptoms. These can include: 

Symptoms of a panic attack can include:

• a racing heartbeat
• a feeling of dread or fear of dying
• chest pain
• sweating
• feeling faint
• feeling shaky
• a churning stomach
• a dry mouth
• shortness of breath
• dizziness.

Anxiety UK says that if you can answer yes to most of the following questions you may be affected by postnatal anxiety: 

• Have you found yourself overly worrying that your baby is in danger?
• Have you found yourself imagining your baby coming to harm?
• Have you found your concerns over your baby’s safety are affecting your daily life?
• Have you experienced repeated panic attacks?

What causes postnatal anxiety?

Anybody can develop anxiety. But if you've had a mental health problem before, you may be more likely have one in pregnancy or after birth. 

It doesn’t help that this time can be stressful. As a new parent, you are likely trying to cope with things like:

• learning how to look after your new baby
• being responsible for your baby’s health and wellbeing 
• a lack of sleep
• a changing relationship with your partner, if you have one
• financial pressures.

Learning to adjust to life as a new family can also be harder if you don’t have good support networks in place, such as friends or family living nearby. You might​ also​ be dealing with additional stress such as an unwell child or other life events. This does not mean that your anxiety is not real or that support will not help. 

You are also more likely to experience anxiety if you:

• have a family history of anxiety
• had problems in childhood, such as parental problems or bullying
• have experienced physical or emotional trauma or abuse
• have a long-term or painful condition
• have been under extra stress due to things like relationship problems, money worries or unemployment 
• had a complicated pregnancy or birth. 

​​If you have experienced pregnancy loss or baby loss before, this can also increase your chances of developing postnatal anxiety ​and postnatal depression. 

What is the difference between postnatal anxiety and postnatal depression?

​​​It’s your health care team’s job to know the differences in mental health problems and to support you with any you might be going through, so don’t worry about knowing the different signs. If you have any concerns or need support, tell your midwife or doctor.  

Postnatal depression involves feeling sad or low all the time for more than 2 weeks. You might also find it hard to concentrate, lose interest in things you usually enjoy, or have feelings of guilt, hopelessness, self-blame and no confidence in yourself.​  

If you have anxiety, you are more likely to have feelings of stress and worry that affect your daily life and are hard to control, as well as physical symptoms like an inability to relax or panic attacks.​​

​​If you think you have postnatal anxiety or depression, regardless of whether you have a formal diagnosis or not, it is important that you get the support you need to manage your symptoms.​​ 

What can I do if I think I have postnatal anxiety?

​​​​​Having a child is a big life change. Try not to be hard on yourself for having these feelings. Talking to your health visitor, midwife, or GP about how you feel can help. They will not judge and they understand that postnatal anxiety is a mental health condition. It is not your fault or something you need to ‘get over’. Your healthcare professional will want to help you get the right support.​​

​​​It can be hard to talk about how you are feeling. Some people find it helps to write down their thoughts and feelings ahead of an appointment. You might also want to bring someone to your appointment. If you prefer, you can sometimes refer yourself for an initial assessment with talking therapies services without seeing your GP.​​

​​The important thing is to let someone know so that you can get the right help as soon as possible. ​Some parents worry that if they ask for help for their symptoms, people will think ​they can’t care for their baby and they will be taken away.  

​​These are natural feelings and any anxiety is understandable. But social services​ are unlikely to be involved in most family’s lives even if a parent is experiencing mental health problems. If they are, they work to keep families together. They​ will never take a baby into care just because a parent has a mental health problem. ​Just because you have anxiety does not make you an unfit parent. ​​     ​​

Don’t be afraid to tell your doctor or health visitor how you’re feeling at any time.  

What are the treatments for postnatal anxiety?

The main treatments for ​mental health problems such as ​​postnatal anxiety​ are ​psychological therapies (such as ​talking therapies​)​, self-help,​ ​medication or a combination of these.

What you are offered will depend partly on what your symptoms are, how severe they are and what’s available locally.​​ ​​Your GP ​may ​also ​refer you to a more specialist ​mental health ​service. 

Talking therapies

Talking treatments are psychological therapies where you talk about your feelings with a trained therapist. This may be one-to-one, in a group, over the phone, with your family or with your partner.

​​Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is ​a type of talking therapy that is often ​effective for anxiety problems. CBT helps you to learn tools to understand and challenge your negative or anxious thoughts and ultimately to do things you'd usually avoid because they make you anxious.​​​

​​If you live in England, your GP or midwife or health visitor can refer you for talking therapies. Or you can refer yourself directly to an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT). Self-referral is not available in every part of the UK, but your GP or health visitor will be able to tell you what’s available where you live.​ 

Guided self-help

​​Your GP or psychological therapies service may suggest trying a guided self-help course to see if it can help you learn to cope with your anxiety. You may be offered a CBT-based workbook or computer course to do in your own time with the support of a therapist.​​​

​​Guided self-help might be the first treatment you try. If this initial treatment isn’t helpful, you might be offered applied relaxation (which focuses on relaxing your muscles in a particular way during situations that usually cause anxiety) or a more intensive CBT where you meet with a therapist.​ 

Medication

​​If talking therapies don’t help, or if you’d prefer it, your GP may offer you medication. In most cases, the first medication you'll be offered will be a type of antidepressant (despite the name, these are also the main medication for anxiety problems).​ 

There are different medications available to help with anxiety. If you’re thinking about taking medication, your GP will discuss with you the different types that may be available. They will discuss things like the length of each treatment and possible side effects to help you make the right decision for you.​​ 

Most medicines, including some antidepressants, can be taken while you're breastfeeding or chestfeeding. ​But you should tell ​your doctor if you're breastfeeding before you start taking any medication. ​It’s also important that you do not stop taking any prescribed medication unless your GP specifically advises you to.

​​​Read more about breastfeeding while taking medication.​​ 

Your relationship with your baby

​​​If you are struggling to bond with your baby because of anxiety, there are lots of support options that can usually improve this.

​​​It’s important to know that some parents bond with their baby immediately, while others find it takes more time. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Talk to your health visitor or GP if you’re still finding it difficult after treatment. They can help you get the best support for how you’re feeling.​​

​​​Find out more about ​bonding with your baby.​​ 

How can I manage my postnatal anxiety symptoms?

​​It’s easy to forget about yourself when you’re caring for a new baby, but it’s important to look after yourself too. ​As well as getting professional help, taking some time to focus on your own self-care may help you manage symptoms of postnatal anxiety.​​ 

You could try to:

• accept and ask for help from those around you, such as friends or family
• do some gentle exercise, such as walking or swimming
• rest and sleep when you can – this can be difficult when you are trying to cope with sleepless nights but there are some things you can try
• recognise that these feelings are not your fault and try to avoid putting pressure on yourself to feel a certain way ​​ 
• avoid having too much caffeine as this can make you more anxious than normal and can also make your baby restless if you are breastfeeding  – try to limit your caffeine as much as possible.

​​​It may also be helpful to talk to a partner, family member or friend about how you feel. They may be able to support you emotionally and practically. For example, they may be able to look after the baby so you can try and sleep.​​

​​​Some people find it useful to talk to other parents too. You could try contacting peer-to-peer support networks or go to local parent and baby groups. It can be reassuring to know that other people feel a similar way. It can also help some parents to realise that they need more support.

Information for partners

​​​If you’re worried about your partner's mental health after they have given birth, it’s a good idea to talk to your midwife or health professional. They will be able to help you and your partner get the right support. ​​

​​​You can also learn more about looking after your partner’s mental health after birth and looking after your own mental health after your baby is born. ​​ 

More advice and support

​​Our pregnancy and post-birth wellbeing plan is designed to help you think about your mental health during and after pregnancy. You can also talk to a Tommy’s midwife for free from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday on 0800 0147 800 or email them at [email protected].​

We also have advice on going back to work after maternity or shared parental leave if you’re worried about how you’ll cope.

​​There are also lots of charities and organisations that provide support, advice, and information for people experiencing mental health concerns such as anxiety. ​ 

• Mind is a mental health charity providing information, support, local groups and an online chatroom. They have specific information about perinatal anxiety and mental health, including postnatal PTSD and birth trauma.​
• Anxiety UK offers information, support and therapies for people experiencing anxiety.
• No Panic provides online and telephone support for people who experience panic attacks, phobias, and anxiety disorders, including OCD.​​
• Birth Trauma Association is a charity supporting women and birthing people who have experienced birth trauma.​
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance is a UK charity that makes sure families affected by perinatal mental health problems have access to good care.
• OCD Action is the largest UK charity for OCD.
• ​​​British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) provides information for people who are considering counselling. ​​ 

You can also ask your GP about local support groups for anxiety in your area, or search online for mental health information and support services near you.