Signs and Symptoms of Perinatal Mental Health Conditions

Going through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood can bring immense joy – but it can also bring emotional and psychological challenges that many don’t anticipate. Perinatal mental health conditions (occurring during pregnancy or up to one year after birth) are more common than many people realise, and you don’t need to have experienced a traumatic pregnancy or birth to be impacted. Recognising the signs early can make a big difference in getting the support you deserve.

Perinatal mental health symptom checker

I recently came across the perinatal mental health symptom checker produced by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, highlighting the main things to look out for during and after birth, in you or someone close to you.

Below, I outline the possible signs and symptoms to watch for, while emphasising that every person’s experience is unique. If any of these resonate with you, reaching out for counselling or professional support is a courageous and important step.

What ‘Perinatal Mental Health Conditions’ Include

Perinatal mental health conditions cover a range of emotional and psychological difficulties that can arise during pregnancy or after childbirth. These may include:

• Prenatal or antenatal depression / anxiety
• Postnatal (postpartum) depression
• Perinatal anxiety or panic attacks
• Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Postpartum psychosis

While these conditions vary in severity and presentation, they all share one thing: they merit understanding, compassion, and appropriate support.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Below is a guide to what you might notice. You don’t need to experience all of these; even a few could indicate that you would benefit from extra support.

Emotional & Psychological Signs

• Persistent sadness, low mood, or tearfulness
• Excessive worry or fear, especially about your baby’s health, safety, or your abilities as a parent
• Intense guilt or self blame (often about not being a “good enough” parent)
• Excessive irritation, anger, or low frustration threshold
• Feeling numb, disconnected, or emotionally flat
• Intrusive thoughts (often unwanted, distressing), sometimes about harm or danger
• Mood swings, fluctuating between highs and lows
• Difficulty concentrating, decision making, or mental “fog”

Behavioural & Cognitive Changes

• Sleeping too much or too little (beyond what new parenting might warrant)
• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
• Avoidance of social interaction or withdrawal from friends/family
• Increased irritability or conflict in relationships
• Frequent crying spells without an obvious external trigger
• Physical restlessness or agitation
• Escapist behaviours (e.g. excessive screen time, overworking) to numb feelings

Physical & Somatic Symptoms

• Changes in appetite: eating significantly more or less
• Fatigue or exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest
• Physical aches, pain, headaches, or digestive trouble with no clear medical cause
• Changes in libido or sense of physical connection with your body
• Restlessness, tension, or trembling
• Sleep disturbances or nightmares

Maternal / Infant-Related Symptoms

• Difficulty bonding with your baby (feeling distant, detached, or ambivalent)
• Persistent worries about harming the baby or fear that you might
• Doubts about being a parent, or feeling “trapped” by motherhood
• Overwhelming guilt or shame related to your parenting or feelings
• Panic or anxiety triggered by baby care routines (feeding, sleep, safety)
• Intrusive thoughts related to the baby’s safety

When to Seek Help

It’s important to reach out for professional support if your symptoms:

• Persist beyond 2–3 weeks or begin to worsen
• Interfere with your ability to function day to day
• Impact your relationships, self-care, or capacity to care for your baby
• Include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

If you are in crisis now, or have thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, call 999, go to A&E, or speak to your midwife or health visitor now.

How Therapy Can Help

In counselling, we’ll create a safe and confidential space to explore your experiences – how you feel, what you fear, what you hope for. Together, we can:

• Unpack the emotional meanings behind symptoms
• Identify underlying beliefs or narratives that contribute to distress
• Develop coping tools for managing anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or mood fluctuations
• Explore the relational dimension: how past relationships influence current feelings
• Support your sense of identity (as a parent, as yourself)
• Foster self compassion, resilience, and reconnection

As a psychodynamic and relational therapist, I pay attention to the stories running beneath the surface and how emotional patterns may be linked to earlier life experience. This deeper understanding often makes change more lasting.

Brighton & Online Counselling for Perinatal Wellbeing

Whether you’re local to Brighton or live elsewhere in the UK, I offer both in-person sessions and online therapy.