I had a mental health concern before. Could it affect my health now and my future pregnancy?

A past mental health concern can increase the chance of having a mental health concern during pregnancy.

A person who had a mental health condition before becoming pregnant is more likely to have:

• mental health concerns during pregnancy, or return of anxiety or depression during pregnancy
• preterm labour
• low birth weight baby
• postpartum depression (depression after giving birth to a baby) or postpartum anxiety

Visit Healthy Parents, Healthy Children to learn more about mood changes after birth.

Learning ways to manage your mental health before you become pregnant can help your health and the health of your future baby. If you have experienced mental illness or have concerns about your mental health, talk with your health care provider.