Understanding Perinatal Anxiety
Anxiety during pregnancy or after birth can be overwhelming — but support is available.
What Is Perinatal Anxiety?
Perinatal anxiety refers to anxiety that occurs during pregnancy (antenatal) or in the first year after birth (postnatal).
While some worry during pregnancy is normal, perinatal anxiety goes beyond normal concern into persistent, overwhelming fear.
It is at least as common as postnatal depression but is less well-known.
Perinatal anxiety can affect any parent, regardless of gender or whether they carried the baby.
How It Manifests
Constant worry about the baby's health, development, or safety.
Intrusive thoughts about something terrible happening to the baby.
Physical symptoms: racing heart, difficulty breathing, nausea, insomnia.
Difficulty relaxing or switching off from worry.
Checking on the baby excessively — waking them to make sure they're breathing.
Avoiding activities or situations perceived as risky.
Feeling unable to cope or that you're failing as a parent.
Types of Perinatal Anxiety
Generalised anxiety: persistent worry about many things.
Panic disorder: sudden panic attacks with physical symptoms.
OCD: intrusive thoughts about harm coming to the baby, often with checking behaviours.
Tokophobia: extreme fear of childbirth (before or relating to future births).
Health anxiety: excessive worry about yours or the baby's health.
Social anxiety: avoiding situations where parenting might be judged.
Support and Treatment
Speak to your midwife, health visitor, or GP — perinatal anxiety is well-understood.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is highly effective.
Medication can be used safely during pregnancy and breastfeeding when needed.
Peer support from other parents who understand.
Self-care strategies: rest, gentle exercise, mindfulness, and accepting help.
You are not a bad parent for feeling anxious — you are a parent who needs support.