Low Mood and Depression in Pregnancy: Signs and Support

Q: Is it common to feel low during pregnancy?

Yes. Feeling tired, irritable, or emotionally mixed is part of pregnancy for most people. If the low mood lasts two weeks or more, and comes with things like persistent sadness, loss of interest, or feeling disconnected from your baby, it is worth speaking to your midwife or GP. Perinatal mental health problems affect up to 27% of new and expectant mothers, so these feelings are far more common than you might think.

Q: How is low mood in pregnancy different from antenatal depression?

Low mood in pregnancy can be a short-lived response to hormonal changes, physical symptoms like nausea and poor sleep, or stressful circumstances. Antenatal depression brings persistent sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, lasting weeks or months. The difference matters, because antenatal depression responds well to professional assessment and structured support, while milder ups and downs may ease with self-help and the people around you. If you are not sure where your experience sits, a conversation with your midwife or GP is the clearest way to find out.

Q: What should you do if you are worried about how you are feeling but are nervous about speaking to a professional?

It is understandable to feel unsure about raising mental health worries. Your midwife or GP has these conversations often, and what you share is handled with care. You do not need to have reached a crisis point before asking for help. If speaking directly feels hard as a first step, you might find it easier to start with a trusted friend or family member, or to contact the Samaritans on 116 123, who offer a listening service at any time.

Pregnant woman's midsection with belly button, showcasing pregnancy.

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Pregnancy can bring a heaviness that does not lift, a tearfulness that arrives without warning, or a flatness that makes it hard to feel interested in things that used to matter to you. These are not the feelings you expected, and they sit apart from the ordinary emotional ups and downs of pregnancy. They are worth paying attention to. Low mood and depression in pregnancy turn up more often than people assume. Perinatal mental health problems affect up to 27% of new and expectant mothers during pregnancy or in the first year after birth.⁵

The difference between ordinary mood changes and persistent low mood

Feeling tired, irritable, or pulled in different directions is part of pregnancy for most people. Hormonal shifts, physical discomfort, and the size of the change ahead can all move how you feel from one day to the next. These ups and downs come with the territory.⁶

Antenatal depression, low mood during pregnancy, feels different. It brings a sadness or hopelessness that sticks around, and a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, lasting weeks or months rather than days. If the low feeling does not ease, or it keeps coming back, that pattern is worth talking through with a professional rather than waiting for it to pass.⁷

Recognising the symptoms of low mood and depression in pregnancy

It does not always look like sadness on its own. You might notice several of these:

Persistent sadness or tearfulness
Irritability or a short fuse that feels out of proportion
Loss of interest in things you would normally enjoy
Feeling disconnected from your baby or from the pregnancy
Poor concentration or trouble making decisions
Changes in appetite or sleep beyond the usual disruptions of pregnancy¹⁸

Noticing these in yourself is not the same as a diagnosis. A midwife or GP can talk through what you are going through and assess it properly.

What can contribute to low mood during pregnancy

Low mood in pregnancy usually comes from several things at once. The nausea, fatigue, and broken sleep that come with pregnancy can wear on your mood, and hormonal changes add to that. These are physical shifts happening in your body.²

What is going on around you and in your past matters too. A history of mental health difficulties, changes in your relationships, little support around you, stressful events, or past trauma can all make low mood more likely during pregnancy. If any of these sound like you, it helps to mention them to your midwife early on, so support can be put in place.³

Practical steps that can support your mood

Pregnant woman in yoga pose on floor, with laptop and computer mouse in background.

If your symptoms are mild, a few self-help approaches can help steady your mood alongside professional support. They do not replace proper care when symptoms are persistent or severe. They can still be a useful part of the picture.

Gentle movement, which can lift your mood without straining your body
Eating regularly and keeping meals balanced where you can
Resting when you can, rather than pushing through exhaustion
Making time for things you enjoy, even small ones
Connecting with other expectant parents, through antenatal classes or local groups
Trying relaxation techniques such as mindfulness or breathing exercises⁹

Talking about how you feel can help too. A partner, friend, or family member is one place to start. If that feels hard, your midwife or GP is there to listen.¹⁰

When and how to seek professional support

If the low feeling has stuck around for more than two weeks, it is worth speaking to your GP or midwife. It is worth knowing that clinicians have safeguarding duties, which in limited cases mean some information may need to be passed to other professionals involved in your care.⁴¹¹

Support can include talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a structured talking therapy that looks at how your thoughts and behaviour shape your mood. In some cases, certain antidepressants may be considered during pregnancy. That always comes with a detailed talk through the benefits and risks with your clinical team, and the decision rests with you and your doctor. For more complex situations, you can be referred to a specialist perinatal mental health team.¹²

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it common to feel low during pregnancy?

How is low mood in pregnancy different from antenatal depression?

What treatments are available for depression during pregnancy?

What should you do if you are worried about how you are feeling but are nervous about speaking to a professional?

Sources

[1] Perinatal mental illnesses

feeling disconnected from your baby or from your pregnancy
[2] Perinatal mental illnesses

Both hormonal changes and physical symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea, fatigue, and poor sleep, can contribute to developing a low mood.
[3] Perinatal mental illnesses

Psychological and social factors that can contribute to low mood in pregnancy include a history of mental health issues, lack of support, relationship changes, stressful life events, and previous trauma.
[4] What is safeguarding?

clinicians have safeguarding duties
[5] Perinatal mental health

Perinatal mental health problems affect up to 27% of new and expectant mothers during pregnancy or in the first year after birth.
[6] Mental health

It is normal to feel tired, irritable, or to have mixed feelings during pregnancy.
[7] Depression in pregnancy

Antenatal depression involves persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, lasting for weeks or months.
[8] Depression in pregnancy

Symptoms of low mood and depression in pregnancy can include persistent sadness, tearfulness, irritability, loss of interest, feeling disconnected from the baby, poor concentration, and changes in appetite or sleep.
[9] Mental health

Self-help strategies for improving mood during pregnancy include gentle exercise, eating a healthy diet, resting, making time for enjoyable activities, connecting with other expectant parents, and practising relaxation techniques like mindfulness.
[10] Mental health

Talking about your feelings to a partner, friend, family member, midwife, or GP is a recommended step for managing low mood in pregnancy.
[11] Depression in pregnancy

If symptoms of low mood last for more than two weeks, speaking to your GP or midwife is the appropriate next step.
[12] Depression in pregnancy

Professional treatments for antenatal depression include talking therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), certain antidepressants considered following discussion of benefits and risks, and referral to a specialist perinatal mental health team.
[13] Mental health

You should seek urgent help by calling 999 or going to A&E if you have thoughts of harming yourself or others. NHS 111 is available for urgent but non-emergency support. The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123.