SIGN toolkit logo

Having a baby is a huge and exciting step in life. You may be planning your first pregnancy or already have children. Either way, you have the right to choose when to try for a baby and how many children you would like to have.


If you have a mental health condition or have had one in the past and you are planning to have a baby, you should talk to your doctor before you become pregnant. With the right treatment and care, most women or birthing parents with mental health conditions have healthy babies, but it is important to talk to your doctor or specialist early.

 

This video tells you what preconception advice is and how it can help you plan for pregnancy.


See the Looking after yourself and your baby section for advice on healthy living when you are planning a pregnancy.

Who can I talk to for advice when I am planning a pregnancy?

Your GP is a good person to talk to if you are planning a pregnancy. If you are under the care of a mental health service, you should also talk to your psychiatrist.

In some areas your GP or psychiatrist may refer you to perinatal mental health services. These are specialist services for pregnant women and birthing parents for up to one year after you have had your baby. They are particularly relevant if you have had bipolar, schizophrenia, postpartum psychosis, or birth trauma. They may also be helpful if you have had other mental health problems (eg depression or anxiety).

If you have a partner and you are happy for them to be involved, it can be helpful to include them in discussions about your wellbeing and care.

You may also find it helpful to talk to other women or birthing parents who have had mental health problems and who now have children. The organisations listed in the support directory in this app can be a good starting point.

Planning a pregnancy when you have had a severe mental health condition

If you are planning a pregnancy and have had a mental health condition, it is important that you get information and advice to help you make an informed decision. This could be information about:

  • what supports your mental health and keeping well
  • identifying early warning signs if your mental health is getting worse
  • your current treatment and any changes that may be needed during pregnancy or after childbirth
  • sources of support for your mental health.

If you are on medication, there are benefits and risks that could affect you or your baby during pregnancy and after you give birth. You can get information about the safety of your medication and discuss this further with your doctor.

You may be referred by your GP to a mental health specialist or perinatal mental health team to give you personalised advice to help you make informed decisions. Useful questions to discuss include:

  • How might pregnancy and childbirth affect me?
  • What is the risk of my previous mental health condition coming back or getting worse?
  • How might my condition and its treatment affect me and my pregnancy and afterwards?
  • How might my condition and its treatment affect parenting?
  • Are there any risks associated with not treating my condition?
  • If my condition isn’t treated with medication, what support and monitoring will help me stay well?
  • What mental health services are available for pregnant women in my area?
  • What kind of support is available after my baby is born?

Your healthcare professional can provide a written summary of your discussions, or other information to help you make informed decisions about your mental health care and treatment.

This 1-minute video from Tommy's goes through 5 key things to think about when planning a pregnancy with severe mental illness.

Useful resources

  • This leaflet from the Action on PostPartum Psychosis network discusses the chances of developing postpartum psychosis. It takes you through preconception planning, making decisions and developing a care plan.
  • Bipolar UK has an online resource to support women with bipolar in planning pregnancy. It outlines what you can do to reduce your risk of becoming unwell, preconception planning, medication, and specialist advice available.
  • Bipolar UK has a series of webinars about preparing for, and experiencing, pregnancy. It also has blogs from women living with bipolar describing their own experiences.
  • Tommy's: Planning a pregnancy with severe mental illness.
  • Tommy's: Planning for pregnancy tool.
  • Royal College of Psychiatrists: Planning a pregnancy.

Planning a pregnancy and managing your mental health if you don't have a mental health condition

Taking care of your mental wellbeing as well as your physical health before pregnancy is important.

Planning to have a baby can be exciting. It can also be daunting. You’re making plans for a huge change in your life. It is normal and healthy to think about issues such as finances, your health, and the kind of parent you want to be. But in some cases the periods of worry and stress don’t go away, and this is when they may turn into something more serious. Look out for changes in your mood that last much longer than is normal for you. Mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, can occur in pregnancy so it’s important to look after your mental wellbeing before and after you conceive.

See your GP if:

  • you’ve been feeling depressed for more than a few weeks
  • your anxiety is affecting your daily life.

The Tommy's resource hub provides useful information on:

  • looking after your emotional and mental wellbeing, including exercise and eating well
  • alcohol and drugs
  • support from family and friends
  • your relationship with your partner.

The hub also has an online tool to create your own wellbeing plan

Record your feelings and questions

You can use this online form to record key issues and questions you want to discuss with your midwife, health visitor, family nurse or other healthcare professional. Once completed, you can save it or print it off. Click on the icon below to access the form.

 Online form