Existing or previous mental health conditions

For some, pregnancy can have a negative impact on their mental health, particularly if they already have mental health conditions. This is because pregnancy hormones can give you emotional highs and lows.

If you have an existing mental health condition, discuss your pregnancy plans with your GP. They can support you, optimise your mental wellbeing before pregnancy and provide advice about:

• How pregnancy could impact on your mental health
• How your mental health could impact on your pregnancy
• The additional or specialist care you might need in pregnancy
• Any medications you are taking
• Refer you for pre-conceptual input from specialist perinatal mental health services if appropriate, for advice in complex cases