Postnatal Depression

Being a mother can bring stress, worry and anxiety. You may go through a period of depression which is brief and manageable, called ‘baby blues’, or deeper and long term, called ‘postnatal depression (PND). Postnatal Depression usually occurs when the baby is between four and six months old. It can occur anytime in the first year. It can leave the mother unable to bond with her child.[i]

 

Signs of Postnatal Depression [ii]

• Feeling very low, or despondent, thinking that nothing is any good, that life is a long, grey tunnel, and there is no hope
• Feeling tired and very lethargic, or even numb. Not wanting to do anything or take interest in the outside world
• A sense of Inadequacy; feeling unable to cope
• Feeling guilty about not coping, or not loving the baby enough.
• Wanting to cry
• Being unusually irritable, which makes the guilt worse
• Losing your appetite, which may go with feeling hungry all the time, but unable to eat.
• Difficulty sleeping; either not getting to sleep, waking early, or having vivid nightmares
• Being hostile or indifferent to your husband or partner
• Losing interest in sex
• Having panic attacks, which strike at any time, causing rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms and feelings of sickness or faintness
• An over powering anxiety, often about things that wouldn’t normally bother you,  such as being alone in the house
• Difficulty in concentrating or making decisions
• Physical symptoms, such as stomach pains, headaches and blurred vision.
• Obsessive fears about the baby’s health or wellbeing, or about yourself and other family members
• Thoughts about death – although very frightening, it is important to remember although you have these thoughts it does not mean you are actually going to harm yourself or your children.

Puerperal Psychosis[iii]

Although fairly rare (1 in 500), it is the most serious kind of postnatal illness. It usually comes on quite suddenly a few weeks after birth. It usually starts with the mother being very restless, excited or elated and unable to sleep. She may have delusions (believing things that are not real) or hallucinations (see or hear things that are not real). She may experience mania or wild mood swings from high to low. Her behaviour may become increasingly bizarre and disturbing to those around her and she may lose touch with reality.

[i] Mind, Understanding Postnatal Depression leaflet. Page 2- 3

[ii] Mind, Understanding Postnatal Depression leaflet. Page 3-4

[iii] Mind, Understanding Postnatal Depression leaflet. Page 11