How Mental Illness & its Treatment Affect Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Disclaimer: This page houses important information and resources pertaining to mental health during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, including links to our evidence-based Fact Sheets. However, the resources here should not replace the care and advice of a medical professional.
Reference: Vesga-Lopez et al., 2008
Mental illness can be a serious medical condition and includes disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar, attention deficit and/or hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD), post-traumatic stress (PTSD), schizophrenia, substance use and addiction, and eating disorders. The chance for a person to develop a mental illness during her lifetime is about 10-25%, and the highest risk occurs during the childbearing years. Taking care of your mental health during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is important for you as well as your developing baby.
Changing hormones during pregnancy can cause mental health conditions that have been treated in the past to come back (this is called a relapse). [People] with mental health conditions are also at higher risk of problems during pregnancy.
— U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women’s Health
Many people are diagnosed with and treated for mental health issues before they become pregnant. Others may develop mental health issues during or after pregnancy due to changes in hormone levels and/or the stress that comes with this major life event (e.g., postpartum depression; depression, anxiety, or PTSD due to pregnancy loss). Regardless of when or how it develops, it is critically important to talk with your healthcare provider about how you are feeling and any problems or symptoms you may be having. Untreated mental illnesses often have their own risks for people who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding and their infants; for example, untreated depression and anxiety has been linked to an increased risk of preterm birth, lower birth weight, and lower Apgar scores.
Not Feeling Like Yourself?
Are you a new parent – or about to be – and feeling sad, worried, or concerned that you aren’t good enough? The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline counselors provide 24/7, free, confidential emotional support and resources to help you feel better. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). Are you currently in crisis? Call or text 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline.
Have a Question?
Need information about depression or a mental health medication during pregnancy or while breastfeeding? Contact a MotherToBaby information specialist.
Please see our library of resources below on mental health during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Related Fact Sheets
- Alcohol
- Alprazolam
- Amitriptyline
- Anxiety
- Aripiprazole (Abilify®)
- Atomoxetine (Strattera®)
- Buprenorphine
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin®)
- Buspirone (Buspar®)
- Cariprazine (Vraylar®)
- Chlordiazepoxide (Librium®)
- Cigarette Smoke
- Citalopram | Escitalopram (Celexa® | Lexapro®)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin®)
- Clorazepate
- Clozapine
- Cocaine
- Codeine
- Depression
- Dextroamphetamine
- Diazepam (Valium®)
- Doxepin
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)
- E-cigarettes (Vaping)
- Fentanyl
- Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
- Fluphenazine (Prolixin®, Permitil®)
- Haloperidol (Haldol®)
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)
- Imipramine (Tofranil®)
- Ketamine
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal®)
- Lithium
- Lorazepam
- Loxapine
- Lurasidone (Latuda®)
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
- MDMA (Molly, Ecstasy)
- Marijuana (Cannabis)
- Methylphenidate
- Midazolam
- Mirtazapine (Remeron®)
- Morphine
- Naloxone
- Nefazodone (Serzone®)
- Nortriptyline
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa®)
- Opioids | Narcotics
- Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®, Oxtellar XR®)
- Oxycodone
- Paroxetine
- Perphenazine
- Physical Trauma
- Quetiapine (Seroquel®)
- Risperidone
- Selegiline
- Sertraline (Zoloft®)
- St. John’s Wort
- Stress
- Tramadol
- Trazodone
- Valproic Acid
- Venlafaxine (Effexor®)
- Vilazodone (Viibryd®)
- Ziprasidone (Geodon®)
Related Baby Blogs
- Empowering Education and Support for Breastfeeding People Living in Rural Communities
- Managing Mom’s Anxiety during Pregnancy
- When Addiction Recovery Meets Pregnancy: Finding a Balance for Mom and Baby
- Don’t Stress Me Out: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Pregnancy
- Planning a Healthy Pregnancy
- Zoloft and Pregnancy: Battling the Holiday Blues
- ADD/ADHD: Focusing on What’s Best for Mom and Baby during Pregnancy
- When Counting Sheep Doesn’t Work: Insomnia and Pregnancy
- Help for the Holidays: Surviving Stress During Pregnancy
- From Bliss, To Barely Breathing: Finding The Light Again After Infant Loss
- Is It Normal To Be Anxious During Pregnancy?
Related Podcasts
- Ep. 71: Maternal Mental Health
- Ep. 70: Nurse Family Partnership
- Ep. 57: Postpartum Depression, Anxiety and Psychosis
- Ep. 48: Preconception Health and Birth Defects
- Ep. 47: Preparing for the 4th Trimester
- Ep. 42: Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Medications
- Ep. 41: Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
- Episode 30: Ask the Pharmacist - Mood & Pregnancy
- Episode 4: Maternal Mental Health & Postpartum Depression
External Resources
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Get Help
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Depression and Anxiety during Pregnancy and After Birth – FAQs
- American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology: Depression Frequently Asked Questions
- American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology: Postpartum Depression Frequently Asked Questions
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- March of Dimes: Depression during Pregnancy
- March of Dimes: Street Drugs and Pregnancy
- Maternal and Child Health HRSA: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). Open 24/7, a free and confidential hotline for pregnant and new moms in English and Spanish.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness: About Mental Illness
- National Eating Disorders Association: Pregnancy and Eating Disorders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Substance Use While Pregnant and Breastfeeding
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Partner Toolkit
- Postpartum Support International: Bipolar Mood Disorders
- Postpartum Support International: Pregnancy and Postpartum Mental Health
- Postpartum Support International: Help for Parents: PSI Helpline
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: National Helpline for Treatment Referral and Information: 1.800.662.HELP (4357)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women’s Health: Reproductive Health and Mental Health
Partners
- March of Dimes
- MyHealthTeams
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
- PatientsLikeMe
- Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM)
- The Mighty
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