Thinking About Pregnancy? Plan Ahead for Emotional Wellness
If you’re living with a mental health condition and dreaming of growing your family, connecting with your midwife or mental health provider before conception can be a powerful first step.
A pre-pregnancy evaluation gives you the chance to review your current care, explore safe medication options, and make thoughtful choices, helping you and your future baby start this journey with strong support in place.
Pregnancy & Postpartum: When Joy Feels Heavy
Pregnancy and the postpartum period bring many changes—physically, emotionally, and hormonally. For some, this season can also stir up or intensify mood disorders like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.
You are not alone.
Up to 1 in 5 people experience a mood disorder during pregnancy or after giving birth.
These are real medical conditions—not a reflection of your strength or love—and they are treatable.
Common signs may include:
- Feeling persistently sad, anxious, or overwhelmed
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Trouble sleeping even when the baby sleeps
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Feeling hopeless, guilty, or not good enough
- If these feelings last more than two weeks, reaching out for help can make all the difference. Midwives can care for your whole being—body, mind, and heart.
Support that Wraps around You and Your Baby
Together, you and your midwife can build a personalized plan, including therapy, support groups, healthy routines, and safe medications when needed.
With care and compassion, brighter days are within reach. We’re here to walk this path with you.
Additional Resources
Find a healthcare provider with specialized training in perinatal mental health
Find a mental health therapist
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Postpartum Support International
Written by Noelle Jacobsen, DNP, CNM, PMHNP-C, WHNP-BC, FACNM
Noelle Jacobsen, DNP, CNM, PMHNP-C, WHNP-BC, FACNM is the founder and owner of OBGYN Psychiatry, a telehealth practice delivering compassionate, expert mental health care for women across the reproductive lifespan. She currently serves patients in Alaska and Hawaii. Dr. Jacobsen is triple board-certified as a Certified Nurse-Midwife, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. With over two decades of experience in women’s health and midwifery, she provides individualized support during pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, menopause, and beyond.
