Signs and symptoms
It’s completely normal to worry when you’re pregnant or have a new baby. But if worry starts to feel constant, overwhelming, or makes daily life harder, you might be experiencing perinatal anxiety.
Click the headings below to explore common signs and symptoms.
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General Worry
Feeling worried most of the time, with lots of “what if” thoughts, or struggling to switch off and relax.
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Worry About Being a Parent
Doubting yourself, feeling unprepared, or putting a lot of pressure on yourself to get everything right.
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Worry About the Baby
Constantly fearing that something is wrong with the baby (even when there are no signs that anything is wrong), excessively checking on or monitoring them, or obsessively searching for information and reassurance.
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Feeling Disconnected or Unsupported
Feeling distant from their baby, unsure of their bond, feeling alone or unsupported by others.
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Concerns About Birth
For some, thoughts about giving birth or memories of a past birth feel stressful, upsetting, or hard to think about.
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Emotional and Identity Changes
Feeling more sensitive, tearful, overwhelmed, or unsure of who you are as things change.
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Irritability
Feeling snappy, short-tempered, or easily frustrated, even over small things.
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Negative self-beliefs and ideals
Struggling with low confidence as a parent or feeling pressured to live up to unrealistic expectations of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood.
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Intrusive Thoughts
Unwanted thoughts or images popping into your mind that cause distress.
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Changes in Your Thinking
Racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, or a sense of “brain fog.”
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Sleeping or Relaxing Difficulties
Finding it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or unwind because your mind feels busy.
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Physical Signs of Anxiety
Sensing a fast heartbeat, sweating, shaking, feeling tense, or feeling suddenly overwhelmed.
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Avoiding Things That Feel Stressful
Avoiding situations, conversations, places, or memories that bring up difficult feelings.
It’s common to experience some of these symptoms from time to time. But if you’re noticing several of them at once, or if they’re starting to interfere with your day-to-day life (for example, looking after yourself, bonding with your baby, keeping up with daily tasks, socialising or maintaining healthy relationships, or enjoying things you usually would), it may be a sign that you need extra support.
