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Perinatal and postnatal depression are serious but treatable mental health conditions that affect parents during pregnancy and after childbirth. These experiences go beyond the expected ups and downs of new parenthood and can have a profound impact on emotional wellbeing, relationships and the ability to bond with a baby.
Reviewed by Phillipa Brown, AHPRA-registered Psychologist
Understanding perinatal and postnatal depression.
Perinatal and postnatal depression are serious but treatable mental health conditions that affect parents during pregnancy and after childbirth. These experiences go beyond the expected ups and downs of new parenthood and can have a profound impact on emotional wellbeing, relationships and the ability to bond with a baby.
In Australia, up to one in five mothers and one in ten fathers experience perinatal depression. It can affect first-time parents as well as those who have had children before. Early support leads to better outcomes for parents, babies and families.
What is Perinatal and Postnatal Depression
Perinatal depression refers to depressive symptoms that occur during pregnancy.
Postnatal depression refers to symptoms that appear in the weeks or months after a baby is born.
It may begin suddenly or develop gradually and can affect emotional, physical and cognitive functioning.
Common symptoms include:
- Persistent low mood, sadness or tearfulness
- Irritability, anger or mood swings
- Difficulty bonding with the baby
- Feeling numb, disconnected or overwhelmed
- Loss of interest in usual activities or relationships
- Changes in appetite or sleep unrelated to baby care
- Feelings of hopelessness, guilt or worthlessness
- Thoughts of self-harm or feeling like a bad parent
These symptoms are different from the "baby blues," which are short-lived mood changes that occur in the first few days after birth and usually resolve on their own.
What Causes Perinatal Depression
There is no single cause, but risk factors include:
- Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy
- Sleep deprivation and physical exhaustion
- History of anxiety, depression or trauma
- Stressful life events or lack of support
- Difficulties with breastfeeding or caring for the baby
- Previous pregnancy or birth complications
- Unrealistic expectations or pressure to be a perfect parent
It is important to know that experiencing depression during this time is not a sign of weakness or failure. It is a medical condition that deserves professional care and understanding.
Myths about Perinatal and Postnatal Depression
Myth: Only mothers experience postnatal depression
Truth: Fathers, partners and non-birthing parents can also experience depression or anxiety during this time.
Myth: You must be crying all the time to be depressed
Truth: Depression may also show up as anger, withdrawal or numbness. Not everyone presents the same way.
Myth: Talking about it means you do not love your baby
Truth: Seeking help shows care and responsibility. Many parents who struggle with depression love their baby deeply.
Why Seeking Help Matters
Perinatal and postnatal depression can affect the parent-child bond, relationship satisfaction and long-term mental health. The earlier support is accessed, the better the recovery.
Support can help you:
- Understand what is happening and feel less alone
- Learn coping strategies to reduce symptoms
- Reconnect emotionally with your baby and partner
- Build confidence in your parenting role
- Reduce the risk of long-term emotional challenges
How MeHelp Psychology Can Assist You
We provide compassionate, evidence-based care for parents navigating perinatal and postnatal depression. Our psychologists are experienced in:
- Emotional support and counselling during pregnancy and after birth
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for depression and anxiety
- Birth trauma processing and support after difficult delivery
- Strengthening parent-infant bonding and attachment
- Adjusting to identity changes and relationship shifts
- Partner or family sessions for shared understanding
- Linking with community resources or specialist referrals where needed
Real-Life Example
Emily, 31, gave birth to her first child after a long labour and emergency caesarean. In the weeks that followed, she felt detached from her baby, cried daily and feared she was not cut out for motherhood. With support from a MeHelp psychologist, Emily processed her birth experience, addressed her negative self-talk and gradually reconnected with her daughter. With therapy, rest and the right support, she regained her confidence and joy in parenting.
Practical Steps You Can Take Today
- Speak to your GP, midwife or child health nurse if you feel low for more than two weeks
- Talk openly with your partner, friend or trusted support person
- Rest when you can and prioritise basic self-care
- Let go of perfection and accept help without guilt
- Limit social media if it increases pressure or comparison
- Join a parent group, even online, for shared experiences and connection
- Reach out to a psychologist or mental health service for professional guidance
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I know if what I am feeling is normal? If low mood, anxiety or detachment are affecting your ability to enjoy life or care for yourself and your baby, it is worth seeking support. You do not need to wait for a crisis.
Can I access Medicare support for therapy? Yes. A Mental Health Care Plan from your GP allows access to Medicare rebates for psychology sessions.
Is it safe to take medication while pregnant or breastfeeding? Many medications are safe, but each case is different. Discuss options with your GP or psychiatrist who will guide you based on your circumstances.
Do you support partners as well? Yes. We provide inclusive support for fathers and partners who may also be struggling with adjustment, depression or anxiety.
What causes perinatal and postnatal depression?
There's rarely one single cause. Most of the time, perinatal and postnatal depression develops from a mix of life experiences, biology, and the environment a person grew up in. Stressful events, family history, and how someone learned to cope with big feelings as a child all play a part.
Understanding the "why" doesn't make the experience smaller — but it can take some of the self-blame out of it. What you're going through makes sense, given everything that came before it.
A psychologist can help you join the dots between what's happened in your life and what you're feeling now — and start to shift the patterns gently.
Supporting someone going through perinatal and postnatal depression.
Watching someone you care about struggle with perinatal and postnatal depression is hard. You might feel helpless, worried, or unsure of what to say. That's normal.
You can help by:
- Listening without trying to fix or rush them
- Taking what they say seriously, even when it's hard to hear
- Asking what kind of support would actually help today
- Looking after your own wellbeing too — you can't pour from an empty cup
- Encouraging professional support without pressuring them
If you're the one supporting them, you're allowed to seek your own therapy too — it doesn't take anything away from them.
The emotional impact is real.
The feelings below are common with perinatal and postnatal depression. They're not signs that something is wrong with you — they're signs of what you've been carrying.
Anxiety and feeling on edge. Always scanning for the next thing to go wrong. Hard to switch off.
Self-doubt. Second-guessing your decisions, memory, or read of the situation.
Low mood and tiredness. Tasks that used to feel easy take far more effort than they used to.
Shame. A sense that other people are coping better than you are. Shame eases in the right company.
Numbness or distance. Feeling foggy, disconnected, or like you're watching life from a step back.
Sleep changes. Trouble falling asleep, waking at 3am, or sleeping far more than usual.
You don't need a formal diagnosis to take what you're feeling seriously. The impact is real.
Why recovery takes time.
Healing from perinatal and postnatal depression is rarely a straight line. It moves in waves — clear one week, harder the next, then quieter again. That isn't a setback. That's the shape of healing.
Good therapy won't push you faster than you're ready to go. Pacing — not pressure — is how this work moves. Small, steady steps add up.
When to seek help.
You might consider seeing a psychologist if you notice any of the following:
- Perinatal and Postnatal Depression is affecting your work, study, or relationships
- You've been trying to cope on your own and it isn't shifting
- Sleep, appetite, or energy have been off for weeks
- You're using alcohol or other things to take the edge off
- A friend, family member, or GP has suggested you talk to someone
- You just want a space to make sense of what's going on
If you're in crisis right now
Call 000 if you or someone else is in danger. Lifeline on 13 11 14 is open 24/7. For family or domestic abuse, 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Treatment that works.
The most evidence-based help for perinatal and postnatal depression is talk therapy. Different approaches suit different goals — your psychologist will tailor things to you.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Works with the thoughts and behaviours keeping things stuck. Strong evidence across many conditions.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Helps you make room for hard feelings while still moving toward what matters to you.
Trauma-informed therapy
EMDR, schema therapy, and IFS help process past experiences gently, without re-traumatising.
Mindfulness-based approaches
Builds the ability to notice what's going on inside without getting swept up in it.
Schema and psychodynamic therapy
Works with longer-standing patterns from early life that show up in adult relationships.
Medication where helpful
Sometimes prescribed by your GP alongside therapy. Always your choice.
Talk to an Australian psychologist about perinatal and postnatal depression.
Every MeHelp psychologist is AHPRA-registered and Australian-trained. Sessions are online, bulk billed under Medicare where eligible, and available evenings and weekends.
AHPRA-registered
Every psychologist is Australian-trained and regulated.
Bulk billing available
Under Medicare with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Same-week appointments
Not three months on a public waiting list.
Evenings and weekends
Sessions fit around your schedule, online from home.
How to access support.
Most clients use a Mental Health Treatment Plan and signed referral so sessions can be bulk-billed under Medicare. NDIS, DVA, and private options are also available.
Book a GP appointment
Ask your GP for a mental health consultation. A longer appointment is best so there's time to talk through what's going on.
What do I do at the GP?Get your plan and referral
Your GP can prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan and signed referral letter. MeHelp needs both before bulk-billed sessions can begin.
See documents requiredSend it to MeHelp
Upload your documents to our secure folder, email them, or ask your GP to fax them. We'll match you with a psychologist.
Send my planFrequently asked questions about perinatal and postnatal depression.
Ready to talk to a psychologist?
Same-week appointments. Bulk billing available. Online across Australia.
With a referral, or without.
Both get you to the same place — an AHPRA-registered psychologist, online. The difference is cost and a GP visit.
With a Medicare referral
Bulk billed — nothing to pay.
- Up to 10 sessions a calendar year
- Needs a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan + referral
- We bill Medicare directly
Without a referral
Pay privately — no GP required.
- No GP visit, no referral
- No session limit — go at your pace
- Often a first session this week
- Completely private — nothing shared