![A quiet conservatory before dawn, with a lavender armchair beside a window and a small night light glowing](https://viacara.com/img/content/perinatal-feature-light.webp) # Perinatal Mental Health Low mood, anxiety or numbness in pregnancy or after birth are common and treatable. Find a professional who works with new and expectant parents. Pregnancy and the first year with a baby can be the hardest time of your life. Many people feel low, anxious or nothing at all, and then feel guilty for it. That does not make you a bad parent. NHS England says up to 26% of new and expectant mothers experience a mental health problem. The perinatal period runs from pregnancy to a year after birth. Help exists at every level, and this page shows you where each level starts. Source: [NHS England: perinatal mental health](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-1) ## If something feels *urgent* Some problems after birth need medical help today, not a therapist next week. Postpartum psychosis is rare, and it moves fast. It affects about one in a thousand mothers, and symptoms usually start within two weeks of the birth. Signs include hearing or seeing things that are not there, beliefs that are unlikely to be true, or sudden confusion. The NHS says to see a GP immediately if you think you, or someone you know, has these symptoms. The same goes for thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. Tell your midwife, health visitor or GP today. Our [UK crisis page](https://viacara.com/crisis/gb/) lists people you can talk to right now, at any hour. Sources: [NHS: postpartum psychosis](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-4), [NHS: urgent mental health help](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-6) ## What we are and what we are *not* We help you find a professional who works with the emotional side of pregnancy and new parenthood. That support runs alongside your midwife, your health visitor and your GP. It never replaces them. NHS England runs specialist perinatal mental health teams for moderate to severe or complex needs. If your GP or midwife offers that referral, take it. A professional found here can work alongside that care, but must not stand in for it. We do not diagnose, and we do not give medical advice. Questions about medication, feeding or your physical recovery belong with your medical team. Source: [NHS England: perinatal mental health](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-1) ## How it can *feel* The NHS lists the signs of postnatal depression: - Low mood, and finding it hard to enjoy anything - Feeling hopeless, guilty, worthless or like a bad parent - Constant worry, fear or restlessness - Trouble sleeping, even when you have the chance to rest - Difficult feelings about your baby, or finding it hard to bond - Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby Feeling down, tearful or irritable for a few days after the birth is very common. The NHS calls this the baby blues. It usually passes within two weeks. Postnatal depression can begin in pregnancy, or any time in the first year after birth. Speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor if low mood does not pass. The NHS says to get help even if you only have some of the signs. You do not need to wait until you cannot cope. Source: [NHS: postnatal depression](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-2) ![The same conservatory as the sun comes up, the window open to a dewy garden](https://viacara.com/img/content/perinatal-mid-light.webp) The night is long, and it is not the whole story ## It can start in *pregnancy* Depression or anxiety can arrive for the first time in pregnancy. Some people have lived with a condition for years and worry about what pregnancy will do. The NHS asks you to be honest with your midwife or GP about how you really feel. If you already have a mental health condition, your maternity team can refer you to your local perinatal service. Ask for that referral early, before the baby arrives. Source: [NHS: pregnancy mental health](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-5) ## *Partners* feel it too Fathers and partners can also have depression after a baby arrives. It often goes unnamed, because everyone is watching the person who gave birth. Lost sleep, money worries and a changed relationship land on both of you. A professional can see either of you, or both of you together. Our [couples page](https://viacara.com/support/couples/) covers what happens when the strain lands between you. Source: [NHS: postnatal depression](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-2) ## When the *birth* itself was the hardest part Some people come out of the birth shaken. An emergency, a loss of control or fear for your baby's life can stay with you for months. NHS England runs maternal mental health services for difficulties linked to the birth itself, including birth trauma. Ask your GP or midwife about them. A trauma specialist found here can also work with what you carry from that day. Source: [NHS England: perinatal mental health](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-1) ## What talking therapy can do The NHS names talking therapy, including cognitive behavioural therapy, as a treatment for postnatal depression. If you live in England and are 18 or over, you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies. You do not need a GP referral. Elsewhere in the UK, ask a GP what talking therapy your area offers. Postnatal depression usually gets better within three to six months. It can last longer, and treatment makes recovery more likely. [Cognitive behavioural therapy](https://viacara.com/approaches/cbt/) works on the thoughts that turn one hard night into proof of failure. A [person-centred](https://viacara.com/approaches/person-centred/) counsellor gives you room to say the things you cannot say to family. A first session helps you tell which one fits. Sources: [NHS: postnatal depression](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-2), [NHS: talking therapies](https://viacara.com/support/perinatal/#ref-3) ## Who to *look* for Look for a professional who names perinatal, postnatal or pregnancy in their profile. Ask whether they offer online or evening sessions, and whether you can bring the baby. A feed should not end the session. If you feel worn out rather than low, our [parental burnout page](https://viacara.com/support/burnout/parental-and-carer-burnout/) may fit better. Our [anxiety page](https://viacara.com/support/anxiety/) covers the constant worry that some people feel more than the low mood. Many people wait, because everyone told them this time should be happy. Tell us how it has been, and we will find the right person. Thanks for your interest. We're not taking on new clients at the moment. ## Ready to find support through pregnancy and new parenthood? We ask what matters to you, then find professionals who fit. Leave your email and we'll let you know as soon as we're ready for you. This conversation helps us find you the right support. What you share helps us understand what you're looking for and find someone who fits. Your email keeps you updated on what's happening next and isn't shared with anyone we introduce you to. [Privacy policy](https://viacara.com/privacy) [Terms of service](https://viacara.com/terms) ## References 1. NHS England (2026). *Perinatal mental health*. [Link](https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/perinatal/) 2. National Health Service (2026). *Postnatal depression*. [Link](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-natal-depression/) 3. National Health Service (2026). *Find an NHS talking therapies service*. [Link](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/find-nhs-talking-therapies-for-anxiety-and-depression/) 4. National Health Service (2023). *Postpartum psychosis*. [Link](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-partum-psychosis/) 5. National Health Service (2026). *Mental health in pregnancy*. [Link](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/mental-health/) 6. National Health Service (2023). *Where to get urgent help for mental health*. [Link](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/) ## Related ### [Understanding Anxiety](https://viacara.com/support/anxiety/) Learn about anxiety, its symptoms and how therapy can help. Find the right practitioner for anxiety support. ### [Couples Therapy](https://viacara.com/support/couples/) Couples therapy for any kind of couple: how sessions work, time alone with the therapist, what it costs for two and when it is not the right start. ### [Parental and Carer Burnout](https://viacara.com/support/burnout/parental-and-carer-burnout/) Parental burnout is measured in four dimensions and it is not depression. What the research says, and what unpaid carers in the UK report. ### [Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)](https://viacara.com/approaches/cbt/) Learn how CBT works, what happens in sessions and what NICE says about it, and read about its forms for sleep, pain and self-help. ### [Person-Centred Therapy](https://viacara.com/approaches/person-centred/) Learn how person-centred therapy works, what sessions look like and why the relationship with your therapist matters most. ### [Finding the Right Practitioner](https://viacara.com/guides/finding-a-practitioner/) A practical guide to finding a mental health practitioner who fits your needs, preferences and budget. ### [Sleep Problems and Insomnia](https://viacara.com/support/sleep/) Insomnia is thought to affect around 1 in 3 people in the UK. Find a professional who works with sleep and with what keeps you awake.