Research suggests around 20 per cent of women will experience perinatal anxiety, but of these, less than 50 percent will seek help or be identified as needing treatment.
It is normal to feel anxious when you are going to or have become a parent, as you want to look after you baby and family and naturally will think about possible dangers.
For some of us, anxiety can become very distressing and greatly effect our lives.
Anxiety in the perinatal period often comes from a compassionate place of wanting to protect yourself and your baby.
It is important to remember there are lots of ways in which professionals can help manage your anxiety in the perinatal period and we know how upsetting it can be to experience this.
Facing uncertainty can be a trigger for anxiety, and this is particularly true for people during the perinatal period. Many people find that pregnancy and parenthood is naturally filled with many unknowns and it is completely understandable that many parents accessing your services will be finding things challenging.
What is perinatal anxiety?
In this video, clinical psychologists Dr Anna Lovatt and Dr Libby Chamberlain explain how women’s brains undergo significant changes during pregnancy to help them prepare for motherhood. Feeling worried and anxious during pregnancy and motherhood is normal – but for some women these worries can build up and feel overwhelming, impacting on daily life.
Cheshire and Mersey Specialist Perinatal Service support and help people with perinatal OCD and perinatal frightening thoughts and distress.
How to help with anxiety in the perinatal period
Anxiety can affect us all. Many of the parents and families you support may be experiencing an increase in anxiety. This video, by clinical psychologists Dr Libby Chamberlain and Dr Anna Lovatt, gives some ideas and simple, compassion-focused strategies that you can share with women and birthing person during the perinatal period.
