Mental Health
Most people experience some stress or anxiety preparing for pregnancy and getting ready to have a baby. However, if you have more serious concerns about your mental health or have been diagnosed with a mental health condition such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, anxiety, or have experienced postpartum psychosis in a previous pregnancy, you may need a higher level of support to help you plan your care during pregnancy and following the birth of your baby. If possible, talk to your healthcare provider before you become pregnant, but if not, as soon as you know that you are pregnant. This will hopefully ease your worries about the effect of your mental health or any medications you are taking on your baby. Please visit the links below for more information on the risk factors that can lead to depression or anxiety during pregnancy, strategies to promote positive mental health at all times, and ways to reduce stress during pregnancy.
- Seeds of Hope: Nurturing Mental Health and Managing Perinatal Mood, Anxiety, and Related Disorders
- Best Start by Health Nexus - How to take care of your mental health before and during pregnancy
- Canadian Paediatric Society - Signs of depression, how it affects your pregnancy and antidepressants
- Middlesex-London Health Unit - Mental health and well-being
- BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services - Reproductive mental health
- Mount Sinai Hospital - Maternal Infant Program and Perinatal Mental Health
- Best Start by Health Nexus - A healthy start for baby and me
- Find mental health support in your community
- Fathers Mental Health - Mental healthcare for fathers in pursuit of healthy families
- Public Health Unit Locator
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