By Joanne Birtwhiste, Tommy's midwife
Pregnancy and having a baby can be an exciting and demanding time for women, with depression and mental health problems, such as anxiety, affecting 10-15% of all pregnant women. If you have an existing or past mental health condition it brings extra challenges and you are at higher risk of relapse during this time than at others.
Medication and pregnancy
If, like Stacey, you are taking medication and discover you are pregnant unexpectedly, is important to tell your doctor as soon as possible so that your treatment can be discussed and considered with you. You should always talk to your doctor before deciding to stop taking medication.
If you are taking medication, and decide you would like to start a family, it’s best to speak to your GP before you get pregnant, so that they can plan the best care for you and your baby.
If you would like to stop medication when you are pregnant, but medication is the best treatment for your mental health problem, your doctor should talk to you about your reasons for wanting to stop medication and about the risks to you and your baby.
If you understand the risks to you and your baby and still decide to stop medication, your doctor should discuss referring for psychological therapy (CBT).
Listen to advice from Tommy’s midwife Jo on antenatal anxiety, depression and medication
At Tommy's, we believe mental health in pregnancy is just as important as physical health, and urge any woman who is concerned about the way they are feeling to talk to their GP or midwife as soon as possible.
Anxiety in pregnancy and medication: Katie's story
Katie had experienced anxiety three or four years before her first pregnancy, and was prescribed anxiety medication which helped her to recover. On the advice of her doctor, Katie came off medication as soon as she found out she was pregnant, and experienced no real withdrawal effects or changes in her mood. All was going well until about 20 weeks, when she started to feel stressed and panicky.
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Mental health before, during and after pregnancy
Although it’s normal to have periods of worry and stress when you’re pregnant, some women have feelings that don’t go away and this can be a sign of something more serious.
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Exercise and activity in pregnancy
People may tell you that pregnancy is a good time to put your feet up. If your pregnancy is uncomplicated it is actually much healthier for you and your baby to exercise while pregnant.
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Weight management in pregnancy
Although you will be putting on weight in pregnancy as your baby grows, limiting the amount of extra weight gain in pregnancy will improve your health and your baby's, both now and in the future.
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Pregnancy calendar - your week-by-week guide to the stages of pregnancy
We've got all the information you need about your body, your emotions and your baby, week-by-week of your pregnancy.
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