Understanding Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum: What New Research Means for International Families in the Netherlands

At Baumgarten Child Psychology and More, we often meet international families navigating not only a new country, but also major life transitions—like pregnancy and early parenthood. These periods can be joyful, but they also bring emotional and psychological challenges that are sometimes unexpected.

A recent study by Brandes and colleagues (2026) offers important new insights into how mental health symptoms develop and change during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Let’s break down what this means—and why it matters for you.

Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Time of Emotional Complexity

It’s well known that pregnancy and the months after birth can increase vulnerability to mental health difficulties. These may include:

• Anxiety

• Low mood or depression

• Stress or overwhelm

• Physical (somatic) complaints

• Irritability or emotional reactivity

Traditionally, these experiences have been grouped into separate diagnoses. But real life is often more complex—many parents experience overlapping symptoms.

A New Way of Understanding Mental Health

Instead of focusing on separate diagnoses, this study looked at how symptoms naturally cluster together over time.

The researchers followed 347 individuals:

• Early pregnancy (~17 weeks)

• Late pregnancy (~35 weeks)

• Postpartum (~25 weeks after birth)

They found that mental health symptoms are organized in a hierarchical structure, meaning:

1. A broad “distress” factor at the top

This reflects overall emotional strain or psychological burden.

2. Two main categories beneath it:

• Internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety, low mood)

• Externalizing symptoms (e.g., anger, impulsivity)

3. More specific symptom groups underneath, such as:

• Pregnancy-related anxiety

• Traumatic stress

• Somatic complaints

• Detachment

• Inattention or hyperactivity

• Social anxiety

What Changes—and What Stays the Same?

One of the most important findings:

👉 Mental health patterns are mostly stable across pregnancy and postpartum, but with subtle shifts.

For example:

• Some symptoms (like pregnancy anxiety or stress) remain consistent

• Others (like low mood or general anxiety) may change slightly in how they present or connect to other symptoms

This tells us that while emotional challenges are common across this period, their expression can evolve over time.

Why This Matters for International Families

Living in the Netherlands as an international parent can add extra layers to this experience:

• Being far from family support

• Navigating a different healthcare system

• Cultural differences around pregnancy and parenting

• Language barriers when seeking help

This research reinforces an important message:

👉 You don’t need to “fit” a specific diagnosis to deserve support.

👉 Your experience is valid—even if it doesn’t look like a textbook case.

What to Look Out For

Because symptoms can overlap and shift, it’s helpful to pay attention to patterns such as:

• Persistent worry or anxiety

• Feeling emotionally flat or disconnected

• Increased irritability or anger

• Trouble concentrating or feeling scattered

• Physical symptoms without clear medical cause

• Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope

If several of these occur together, it may reflect broader emotional distress rather than a single issue.

A More Flexible Approach to Support

This study supports a more personalized, flexible approach to care:

• Looking at the whole picture, not just one label

• Understanding how symptoms interact

• Adapting support as your needs change across pregnancy and postpartum

For international families especially, this can mean integrating:

• Psychological support

• Cultural sensitivity

• Practical guidance for navigating Dutch systems

You’re Not Alone

Pregnancy and early parenthood are major transitions—emotionally, physically, and socially. Experiencing distress during this time is more common than many people realize.

The key takeaway from this research is hopeful:

👉 Mental health challenges during this period are understandable, structured, and treatable.

👉 And support can be tailored to your unique experience.

How We Can Help

At Baumgarten Child Psychology and More, we support international families in the Netherlands with:

• Perinatal mental health support

• Parenting guidance

• Emotional wellbeing during transitions

• Culturally sensitive care in English

If you’re unsure whether what you’re experiencing is “normal” or worth discussing—it probably is.

Reach out. You don’t have to figure this out alone.