Having a baby can be an exciting and wonderful experience. However, during pregnancy and after the baby is born are times of considerable change when emotional, physical, social and financial demands may be difficult to manage.

Pregnancy and childbirth can contribute to the risk of developing depression and about one in eight women may experience postnatal depression (PND).

Postnatal depression is what happens when you become depressed after having a baby. It usually, although not always, starts within a month of giving birth and lasts for weeks, several months or in rare cases years. This is different to ‘baby blues’ where mothers feel weepy, flat and unsure of themselves three or four days after giving birth. Baby blues are common and pass after a few days.

What are the symptoms of postnatal depression?

Some common symptoms of postnatal depression include:

• feeling very low or miserable and that there is no hope;
• feeling tired, lethargic and finding everything an effort;
• finding it difficult to enjoy or be interested in anything;
• feeling inadequate or unable to cope;
• feeling guilty about not coping, or about not loving your baby enough;
• being unusually irritable, which makes the guilt worse;
• feeling tearful;
• losing your appetite which can contribute to feeling tired and irritable;
• difficulty sleeping even when tired: either not getting to sleep, or waking early;
• being hostile or irritable with your partner, other children or with your baby;
• losing interest in sex;
• feeling anxious, tense and nervous much of the time;
• feeling panicky about things which wouldn’t normally bother you;
• difficulty in concentrating or making decisions;
• physical symptoms, such as stomach pains, headaches and blurred vision;
• worrying excessively about the baby’s health and wellbeing.

What causes postnatal depression?

There is probably no single reason, but a number of different factors may increase the risk of postnatal depression. These can include:

• a history of depression (especially PND) or other mental health problem;
• lack of support (social support) of partner/family;
• having a difficult labour;
• having a premature or sick baby;
• stresses during pregnancy such as an illness or death in the family, unemployment, housing or money problems.

However, it is important to remember that postnatal depression can occur without obvious reason and having these problems doesn’t mean that you will definitely develop PND.

Puerperal psychosis
Puerperal psychosis is a rare but serious condition that affects around 1 in 500 women. It can develop in a few hours and it is important for mothers to receive treatment as soon as possible. Symptoms may appear within a few days or weeks after the baby is born. These include:
 

• disturbed mood which can be either elevated (mania) or depressed;
• having muddled thoughts, false ideas (delusions) and hearing voices or seeing things that are not there.

Women who have previously experienced an episode of serious mental illness or who have a family history of serious mental illness are at increased risk of puerperal psychosis.

If you are worried about depression during or after pregnancy contact your GP, midwife or health visitor who will be able to provide help and support.

For further information visit Royal College of Psychiatrists website.