When anxiety or depression occurs during pregnancy it is referred to as antenatal depression or antenatal anxiety.
Up to 1 in 10 women and 1 in 20 men experience antenatal depression. Anxiety is thought to be as common, and many parents experience anxiety and depression at the same time. It is normal to experience a degree of anxiety and ‘ups and downs’ when expecting a baby. However, some people develop a more pronounced anxiety or lower mood (depression) which affects their daily life and functioning.
For some people this is the first time they have felt depressed, others may have a depression which predates pregnancy, and may not have been recognised up to that point.