Pregnancy and Parenthood

I can’t stop crying all the time, I look like a mess, I don’t feel like myself.

On this page you'll find information about:

• Understanding parental mental health
• Symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety
• Explore our online wellbeing webinars
• How talking therapies can help

Understanding parental mental health

Feeling low? Anxious about giving birth or bringing your baby home? Struggling to bond? Experiencing negative thoughts?

Having a baby can bring joy, but it can also cause trigger stress as well as other emotions. It’s completely normal to experience a wide range of feelings from happiness and love to worry and frustration. This isn’t a sign of weakness, and with support, you can start to feel better.

The perinatal period – from pregnancy through the first year after birth is a time of transition. If these emotions are affecting your daily life, you may be facing mental health challenges. Up to 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experience anxiety or depression during this time.

It’s important to monitor your feelings and seek help when needed.

Symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety

If you’re worried about how you or a loved one are feeling, here are some signs and symptoms to look out for:

• Feeling sad, low or tearful
• Feeling anxious or on edge around your baby
• Lack of bonding or enjoyment with baby
• Trouble sleeping - even when baby is asleep
• New difficulties with loved ones e.g. partner, friends or other children
• Difficulty concentrating
• Negative thoughts about yourself, others or the wider world

Explore our online wellbeing workshops

Our wellbeing workshops cover topics such as stress, anxiety, worry, depression, sleep hygiene and more. They provide insights into signs and symptoms, practical guidance and techniques to help boost your mood, as well as resources for additional support.

How can Talking Therapies help? 

We offer a variety of free mental wellbeing support for pregnancy and new parents; including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Counselling for Depression and more. If you are struggling with mental health challenges around having a baby – you are not alone. Talking therapies at Total Wellbeing Luton can help you make sense of your emotions and equip you with practical strategies to build confidence and feel more positive about parenthood.