Skip to main content

Postnatal depression

Postnatal depression



What is postnatal depression?

Many new parents feel tired or overwhelmed, but postnatal depression is different. In postnatal depression, you may have feelings of:

sadness

numbness

hopelessness

These symptoms affect your ability to cope with and enjoy your daily life.

Postnatal depression is common, affecting about 1 in 7 women in the first year after having a baby. Up to 1 in 10 fathers also experience depression around this time.

If you have symptoms of depression, there's lots of support available to help you get back to enjoying life and your new baby. Getting help early is best for both you and your baby.

What are the symptoms of postnatal depression?

People experience postnatal depression differently, but many people will have similar symptoms or difficulties. Sometimes, signs of depression are missed or dismissed as a normal part of life with a new baby. So, it's a good idea to be aware of the common signs of postnatal depression.

Common symptoms of postnatal depression you might notice include:

feeling low or numb

feeling helpless, hopeless or worthless

losing interest in others, including your new baby

changes in your sleep or appetite

having no interest or pleasure in things your normally enjoy

tiredness or problems with concentration and making decisions

thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

What is the difference between 'baby blues' and postnatal depression?

About 4 out of 5 new mums experience 'baby blues' in the first 3 to 5 days after having a baby. These feelings are usually due to the hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy and birth.

If you have 'baby blues', you may:

feel tearful, sensitive, anxious or overwhelmed

feel moody or irritable

have trouble sleeping

These feelings can be challenging, but they usually pass on their own within 10 days.

In postnatal depression, your symptoms:

last longer than 2 weeks

may be more severe

usually interfere with your ability to function normally

Unlike 'baby blues', postnatal depression doesn't usually go away on its own. This can be especially tough to cope with when you are recovering from birth and have a new baby to look after.

It can be hard to know if what you're feeling is normal or might be the start of something more serious. If you're not sure, it's a good idea to check in with your doctor or child health nurse.

What is the difference between postnatal anxiety and depression?

Both anxiety and depression are more common after the birth of a baby. Many people who have postnatal depression will have anxiety at the same time.

Some symptoms are similar, but anxiety and depression are different conditions that may need different treatments. Postnatal anxiety can cause feelings of worry or fear that are difficult to control. In both conditions, you may struggle to cope with your daily activities.

Am I at risk of postnatal depression?

There are some factors that can increase your chance of developing postnatal depression. These include:

a history or family history of mental illness

a lack of social support

previous trauma or a history of physical, sexual or emotional abuse

current or recent stressful life events

previous pregnancy losses

a difficult pregnancy or birth

a baby who is unwell or difficult to settle

Having one or more of these risk factors does not necessarily mean that you will develop postnatal depression.

If you have any of these risk factors, make sure you have enough practical and psychological support during your pregnancy and after your baby's birth. This can help to reduce your chance of developing depression and help you to cope better if you do become unwell.

How is postnatal depression diagnosed?

If you notice symptoms of postnatal depression, talk to your:

doctor

midwife

child health nurse

They may:

ask about how you have been feeling

give you a questionnaire to complete

ask to speak with your partner, if you have one

do a physical examination

How is postnatal depression treated?

There are several treatments for postnatal depression. Your treatment will depend on your symptoms and how severe they are.

Treatments include:

psychological therapies

antidepressant medicines

self-care measures

Your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and disadvantages of any treatment. This includes the impact of any medicines on breastfeeding.

Psychological therapy

Psychological therapy or counselling can help in the treatment of depression. Therapy aims to give you support, education and information on how to understand and cope with depression.

Therapies may include:

cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)

Medicines

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe antidepressant medicines to help treat depression.

Self-care measures

You can help improve your symptoms by:

getting practical help and emotional support from family and friends

eating a healthy diet

keeping active with physical activities you usually enjoy

planning for regular, quality sleep

using stress-management techniques, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing

It can be difficult to establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle while recovering from birth and looking after your new baby. There is no shame in asking for and accepting help from family and friends.

Self-care is important to keep yourself physically and mentally healthy. Remember that looking after yourself benefits your whole family, especially your new baby.

Type of Doctor Department : Psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Charge Syndrome

Overview CHARGE syndrome is a recognizable genetic syndrome with known pattern of features. It is an extremely complex syndrome, involving extensive medical and physical difficulties that differ from child to child. CHARGE syndrome is correlated with genetic mutation to CHD7 and the prevalence of CHARGE syndrome is 1:10,000-1:15,000 live births. Babies with CHARGE syndrome are often born with life-threatening birth defects. They spend many months in the hospital and undergo many surgeries and other treatments. Swallowing and breathing problems make life difficult even when they come home. Most have hearing two little girls sitting on a carpet, one girl has a trach and is biting her finger.loss, vision loss, and balance problems that delay their development and communication. Despite these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, children with CHARGE syndrome often far surpass their medical, physical, educational, and social expectations. One of the hidden features of CHARGE syndrome is the ...
7 comments
Read more

Dehydration Due to Diarrheal Diseases

Overview Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated. Anyone may become dehydrated, but the condition is especially dangerous for young children and older adults. The most common cause of dehydration in young children is severe diarrhea and vomiting. Older adults naturally have a lower volume of water in their bodies, and may have conditions or take medications that increase the risk of dehydration. This means that even minor illnesses, such as infections affecting the lungs or bladder, can result in dehydration in older adults. Dehydration also can occur in any age group if you don't drink enough water during hot weather — especially if you are exercising vigorously. You can usually reverse mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids, but severe dehydration needs immediate medical treatment. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ataxia with Vitamin E Deficiency

Synonyms of Ataxia with Vitamin E Deficiency AVED Familial Isolated Vitamin E Deficiency Isolated Vitamin E Deficiency General Discussion Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED) is a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impaired ability to coordinate voluntary movements (ataxia) and disease of the peripheral nervous system (peripheral neuropathy). AVED is a progressive disorder that can affect many different systems of the body (multisystem disorder). Specific symptoms vary from case to case. In addition to neurological symptoms, affected individuals may experience eye abnormalities, disorders affecting the heart muscles (cardiomyopathy), and abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis). AVED is extremely similar to a more common disorder known as Friedreich’s ataxia. AVED is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Vitamin E deficiency often occurs secondary to disorders that impair the absorption of vitamin E from fat including liver disorders, disorders of fat...
Post a Comment
Read more