Postnatal Depression
What is postnatal depression?
Women often experience a period of low mood following childbirth. Postnatal depression (PND)
is a depressive illness that occurs after having a baby. It is common for women following childbirth
to experience a period of low mood. This can range in severity from a mild and normal period of
mood disturbance (baby blues), through to PND.
What are the symptoms of PND?
The symptoms are very similar to those seen in ordinary depression.
- Feeling low, miserable and tearful for no apparent reason.
- Being unable to enjoy yourself; particularly prominent in new mothers who feel that they
are not enjoying having a new baby in the way they expected to. - Irritability with other children, the new baby and particularly with your partner.
- Sleep disturbance; finding it hard to go to sleep even though you are tired, or waking early
in the morning. - Appetite is sometimes affected, with mothers not being interested in food.
- Anxiety frequently occurs in PND. This may take many forms. Normal concerns and anxieties
that any mother feels for a new baby may become overwhelming. - Feelings of being worthless and hopeless. All mothers are faced with new and sometimes
difficult problems with a new baby. However, mothers with PND feel not able to cope all
the more and are unable to see a way through their difficulties.
What to do if you have PND
- Don't bottle things up. Talk to somebody about how you feel.
- Speak to your health visitor or GP. They will be able to sort out what should be the best way
of helping you with your illness. - Consider talking to a counsellor in confidence. You can Contact Us to make an appointment.
- Remember that depression is an illness and you are not suffering from it because you are
weak or hopeless. Also remember that it is very common and that it will get better. - Having a baby is tiring and stressful for any mother. You will not be able to manage all the
things that you did before the birth. Reduce your commitments and accept help when it is offered. - Take any opportunity you can to get some sleep.
- Make sure that you try to keep up your normal diet - you will need all the energy you can get.
- Involve your partner. Having a young baby will be difficult for him too and he will be concerned
about your illness. Encourage him to speak to your health visitor or GP so that they can
understand the illness you have. - Try to get some time to yourself and with your partner if you can.
- Talk to other mums with new babies. You will find that they also feel many of the same things you do.