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Coping with anxiety during pregnancy
Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are common during and after pregnancy. Learn about safe, effective treatment.
Talking about her experience helped a new mom cope with her anxiety and feelings of shame.
After dealing with infertility, Bree was thrilled when she got pregnant through in vitro fertilization. But soon afterward, she began to feel anxious.
“I was scared,” said the Kaiser Permanente member and employee, who asked that we only use her first name.
“Every day I woke up thinking I was going to lose this pregnancy, or something was going to happen to me. And all the work that we did to get pregnant wasn’t going to be worth it.”
Adding to her worry were feelings of shame.
“Pregnancy is supposed to be this beautiful thing. It's supposed to be a blessing,” Bree said. “And if you share with people that you’re struggling, there’s a sense that something's wrong with you and you don't deserve to be a mother.”
Bree began pulling away from family and friends. As she did, her anxiety got worse.
Anxiety and depression during pregnancy
Bree’s experience isn’t unusual. Maternal mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder are common.
- One in five women experiences a maternal mental health condition
- Black women experience these conditions at nearly twice the rate of all women
- Left untreated, maternal mental health conditions can have a devastating effect. They are a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths.
“Pregnancy and postpartum can often be the first time that people have mental health symptoms,” said Michelle Gebhardt, MD, an ob-gyn with Kaiser Permanente.
That’s why maternity patients at Kaiser Permanente are screened for mental health conditions both during and after pregnancy.
“We ask multiple times because we want to see if their symptoms are getting better or getting worse,” Dr. Gebhardt explained.
Learn more in this video about emotions and changes in pregnancy.
Symptoms of depression and anxiety
Everyone feels sad or worried from time to time. Signs that you may be experiencing depression or anxiety can include:
- Feeling sad and tearful
- Having difficulty sleeping
- Having difficulty getting out of the house
- Having anxiety or intrusive thoughts
“If you're experiencing these symptoms more days than not, and if they're intense and lasting, please reach out to us, because we can help,” Dr. Gebhardt said.
Treatment for maternal mental health conditions
Kaiser Permanente offers a range of care options for pregnant and postpartum patients dealing with mental health concerns.
“Treatment can include one-on-one therapy or connecting with other moms struggling with the same issues in group settings,” said Dr. Gebhardt. “We also have really safe, effective treatment medications.”
Sharing her worries helped her manage anxiety
Bree’s turning point came a year after her baby was born. With her doctor’s encouragement, she decided to try medication for her anxiety. And she began sharing her feelings, both with friends and on social media.
Bree with her husband, Nate, and their daughter.
“I needed to let it out because it was eating me up,” she said. “Hearing that I wasn't alone helped me stop feeling ashamed.”
When she became pregnant with her second child, Bree once again experienced feelings of anxiety. This time, she was more forthcoming with her doctor.
“She recommended that I start talk therapy. I was able to stick with it for almost a year, and that helped a lot.”
Bree urges other mothers to seek help if they need it.
“You're not a bad person if you need help. It doesn’t make you a bad mother. And once you help yourself, you’re better able to help that little person you brought into the world.”
Learn more about mental health during and after pregnancy.