You must be around 23 weeks of your pregnancy!
By now, you will probably have had your Booking-In appointment with the hospital.
This week’s information is all about topics that you may want to consider now and throughout your pregnancy.
Part 1: Emotional ‘ups and downs’
During pregnancy you can experience a range of physical and emotional changes. These may be attributed to hormonal changes, feeling more tired, having nausea, or generally feeling unwell. It is important to monitor how you are feeling and seek support to let someone know if you feel that you are not coping.
You may feel sad or teary for no apparent reason. Sometimes these feelings can be persistent or more intense. It is important to “listen” to your body and seek support, rather than ignore what is happening.
During pregnancy you can expect an emotional rollercoaster ride. You may feel sad or teary for no apparent reason, and unfortunately this is quite common. Sometimes these feelings can be intermittent, or more persistent, and can vary in severity. Your partner can also experience emotional changes that may need support.
Signs of depression can include feeling:
- guilty
- irritable
- that things are hopeless
- low, anxious, or tense a lot of the time.
You may also find yourself:
- not enjoying things you normally enjoy
- crying most of the time
- having problems sleeping, concentrating, or making decisions
- wanting to harm yourself or others. Please seek immediate support or call '000'.
Talk honestly and openly about your feelings and symptoms with your midwife or doctor. They will help you find the best support options available to you.
If you need help dealing with your emotions or feelings, your health care provider can make a referral to our Women’s Mental Health Service.
Partners may also be feeling a mixture of emotions. It is important to keep communicating with each other about what you are experiencing. This can help you both adjust to the changes happening in your lives. If you would like support, contact Beyond Blue or Relationships Australia.
If you are pregnant and on your own, it may seem difficult to find people to share your feelings with.
Working out what to do about the challenges you are experiencing - whether they be personal, medical or financial - can also be very hard.
A health professional such as a counsellor may be able to help. You can also ask for referral to our Social Work Department.
Things to consider
- Choose a trusted friend or family member to come to appointments and childbirth classes with you.
- Identify someone close by that can support you after you have your baby.
- Plan for childcare needs if you intend to return to work.
- Find out about any parenting benefits that you may be entitled to.
- Learn about the local community services that can help to support you and your baby. Talk to your local council and Maternal and Child Health Nurse for more information.
- PANDA
Antenatal depression: signs and symptoms
Emotional and mental wellbeing for LGBTIQA+ parents
National Helpline: 1300 726 306
- Beyond Blue: Healthy Families
Pregnancy and new parents
Dadvice: Because babies change everything
- Cope (Centre of Perinatal Excellence)
Antenatal depression (This Information is available in English and other languages)
Part 2: Workload around the home during pregnancy
We acknowledge the diversity of women, men, transgender, and non-binary gender identities. All people have a right to a safe, welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment.
Gender equality is an ongoing social expectation. As a family, pregnancy can be a great time to discuss and challenge the rigid gendered expectations of parenting.
The workload around the home is not always equal. If you have a partner, it can be helpful to talk about any issues that arise. This can reduce stress, relationship breakdowns and limit the risk of violence. To support your conversations, we’ve come up with some key topics that you may find helpful:
- Who will be the stay-at-home/main care provider?
- How will the other person support this role?
- Who do you have to support you? (partner, other family members, friends)
- How long will you be taking maternity or paternity leave?
- How will this impact family finances?
- What changes to both physical and emotional states have altered the home environment?
- How can the person/couple plan to manage this?
- Who else can you turn to for support?
Research shows that the parenting roles and division of housework, that parents establish in the first year after the birth of a baby, will last for at least the first 10 years. This can sometimes lead to feelings of resentment, guilt and stress, adding to the already full role of a new parent.
Remember, the workload in your new family may not always be equally shared. At times one person may have a greater load, such as a new baby, illness or increased demands at work. The important thing is how you support each other during these times.
- Better Health Channel
Pregnancy support – fathers, partners, and carers - Our Watch
Challenging gender stereotypes in the early years: the power of parents
Part 3: Violence should not be part of your pregnancy
If you are experiencing verbal, emotional, sexual, financial, spiritual and/or physical violence, talk to a health professional.
Violence can have an enormous impact on you, your pregnancy, your baby’s health and the wellbeing of other children. Sometimes violence starts in pregnancy and may worsen after the baby is born. Your health professional, a social worker, and the Women’s, can give you confidential advice and help you to find support in a way that works for you.
- Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA)
(03) 9635 3610 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
- Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre
1800 015 188 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
- inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
1800 755 988 (10am–4pm, Monday to Friday)
- Police 000
- Safe and Equal
The Safe and Equal website has more information about specialist family violence services that provide support to victim-survivors in Victoria.
We hope you have found this information helpful.
Remember you can go back to previous weeks.
If you have any health concerns, please talk to one of your health care professionals – midwife, General Practitioner (GP), hospital doctor, etc.
There will be more to read and learn next week, in week 24. Stay safe and well.