Postnatal depression

It’s a common problem, affecting more than 1 in every 10 mothers within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners, although this is less common.

With the right support, which can include self-help strategies and therapy, most people make a full recovery.


With the right support, which can include self-help strategies and therapy, most people make a full recovery.

Symptoms

Postnatal depression affects everyone differently. It can start at any point in the first year after giving birth. It can continue from depression in pregnancy. It may develop suddenly or gradually.

Many people feel a bit down, tearful or anxious in the first week after giving birth. This is often called the ‘baby blues’ and is so common that it’s considered normal. The baby blues don’t last for more than 2 weeks after giving birth.

If your symptoms last longer or start later, you could have postnatal depression.

The main symptoms of postnatal depression include:

a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood loss of interest in the world around you no longer enjoying things that used to give you pleasure lack of energy and feeling tired all the time trouble sleeping at night feeling sleepy during the day feeling that you’re unable to look after your baby problems concentrating and making decisions loss of appetite or an increased appetite (comfort eating) feeling agitated, irritable or very apathetic (you ‘can’t be bothered’) feelings of guilt, hopelessness and self-blame difficulty bonding with your baby – feeling of indifference and no sense of enjoyment in their company frightening thoughts, for example, about hurting your baby – these can be scary, but they’re very rarely acted upon thinking about suicide and self-harm

These symptoms can affect your day-to-day life and your relationships with your baby, family and friends.

Speak to your GP or health visitor as soon as possible if: you think you have postnatal depression Don’t struggle on alone and hope the problem will go away. It can take a lot longer to feel better if it’s not addressed.