Pregnancy, Birth and Baby home

Stress and pregnancy

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Key facts

  • Stress is a normal reaction to a major change, such as pregnancy.
  • Too much stress can be overwhelming and could even lead to health problems for both for you and your baby.
  • There are many strategies you can use to manage stress during pregnancy.
  • If you are struggling with significant stress during pregnancy, talk about this with your doctor or midwife.

    • What is stress?

    Stress (Opens in new tab) is a common and normal response to challenging or new situations. Stress has both mental and physical aspects. When you are stressed, your body releases stress hormones (Opens in new tab) such as adrenaline (Opens in new tab). This brings on physical changes in your body, which help you respond to the stressful situation.

    Stress becomes a chronic condition when it compromises quality of life and creates limitations, or if you feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. When this happens, it is important to take steps to manage your stress (Opens in new tab) to ensure that you can function well and look after your health and your baby's health.

    What can cause stress in pregnancy?

    For some people, finding out that they are pregnant can be a stressful experience. You might feel like you have lost control or don't have enough resources to manage what you'll be experiencing.

    Stress can come from:

    Your situation at home may cause you stress, such as:

    Emotions such as grief (Opens in new tab), past anxiety, depression or other mental illness (Opens in new tab), can cause more stress during pregnancy, as can drug (Opens in new tab) and alcohol problems.

    If more than one of these events happen to you at the same time, you could experience even more stress.

    How can stress affect my baby and me?

    Chronic (ongoing) stress can affect your health or wellbeing, and can cause headaches and problems sleeping.

    Some people might also experience:

    Chronic stress could also cause problems for your baby. If stress is not managed well, there may be effects on your unborn baby's growth and the length of your pregnancy (gestation). The risk of problems in your baby's future physical and mental development may also increase, as well as behavioural issues in childhood.

    How do I know if I'm too stressed?

    The point where stress becomes a problem is different for everyone — it varies from person to person. If you are concerned or unsure that stress is the problem, it is important to seek help and advice with a health professional. You might also look out for clues, such as:

    CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

    How can I reduce stress during pregnancy?

    During pregnancy, it's important to look after your mental wellbeing as much as your physical health. When you feel well, content and relaxed, you are better at managing stress.

    To reduce stress, you could try the following:

    Physical activity and relaxation can also help to reduce stress:

    You don't have to cope alone. Ask for help when you need it and accept offers to help you.

    When should I see my doctor?

    If you have tried relaxation techniques and reaching out to someone you trust, but still feel overwhelmed, check in with your doctor, your midwife or a mental health professional (Opens in new tab). Be sure to attend all your regular antenatal health appointments — let your care provider know if you're feeling stressed (Opens in new tab). You can also call a mental health helpline (Opens in new tab) for support.

    Stress is not a diagnosis but a sign that something else is going on. Chronic stress could indicate depression, anxiety or another mental health condition (Opens in new tab). GPs and psychologists (Opens in new tab) can recognise when stress means you need extra support, so don't hesitate to reach out for advice.

    FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

    Resources and support

    If you need more help to manage your stress, you can contact:

    Here are some other things to try:

    Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

    Looking for information in languages other than English?

    Speak to a maternal child health nurse

    Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 (Opens in new tab) or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

    Last reviewed: August 2024

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