Becoming a parent is one of the most emotional and life-changing experiences a person can go through.
But for many women, the period after giving birth is also a time of vulnerability.
Two new studies from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shed light on how childbirth affects mental health, and the findings may surprise you.
These large studies focused on almost 1.8 million pregnancies in Sweden between 2003 and 2019. The researchers looked at mental health problems like depression, psychosis, anxiety, and stress-related conditions before, during, and after pregnancy.
They found that while pregnancy itself may offer some protection from certain mental health issues, the months following childbirth can be a very sensitive period, especially for depression and psychosis.
In fact, the risk of depression increases by around 20% in the five to fifteen weeks after giving birth. The risk of psychosis, though rare, is up to seven times higher during the first 20 weeks after childbirth than before pregnancy.
One important factor in understanding this is the huge amount of change women go through. Pregnancy and childbirth bring not only hormonal shifts but also major lifestyle and emotional changes. These changes can leave many women feeling overwhelmed, tired, anxious, or even hopeless.
The good news is that Sweden introduced national guidelines in 2020 to screen pregnant women for depression. The researchers compared women who gave birth before and after these new rules came into effect.
They found that depression diagnoses happened earlier in women who gave birth after 2020. This means that women might be getting the help they need sooner.
Interestingly, the number of diagnoses didn’t go up—so more women weren’t necessarily getting depressed—but the mental health system caught it earlier. This can make a big difference in reducing suffering and improving outcomes.
Another surprising finding is that other types of mental illness—like anxiety disorders, stress-related problems, and substance use issues—were actually less common during and after pregnancy than before.
The researchers believe this could be because pregnant women are more connected to healthcare services, adopt healthier lifestyles, and go through biological changes that might help protect them during this time.
In a second study, the researchers looked at the risk of suicide attempts in both mothers and fathers around the time of childbirth. This study found that both mothers and fathers are less likely to attempt suicide in the weeks right after a baby is born—especially mothers.
This is the opposite of what is normally seen in the general population, where women usually have higher rates of suicide attempts than men.
The protective effect for fathers lasted only about ten weeks after the birth. After that, their risk of suicide attempts started to rise again.
Although suicide attempts during and after pregnancy are rare, they are extremely serious. The researchers emphasized that early detection and support are key. Regular mental health check-ups during and after pregnancy can help identify those who are struggling and provide them with the support they need.
These studies highlight the importance of caring for the mental health of both mothers and fathers—not just during pregnancy but especially after childbirth. Mental health support should be part of every parent’s journey, just like physical checkups for the baby.
In conclusion, while the risk of some mental health issues rises after childbirth—particularly for depression and psychosis—suicide risk actually goes down for both mothers and fathers during this time.
Screening and early support play a vital role in helping families adjust and stay well. These findings remind us that mental health is just as important as physical health when bringing a new life into the world.
The study is published in Molecular Psychiatry.
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