Postnatal Depression (PND)
Half of all mothers feel low for a few days
soon after having a baby, but only 1 in every 10 will
become depressed.
Depression is not just feeling blue, it
is:
- you have no appetite (or over-eat
for comfort)
- you can't cope
- anxious
- guilty
- afraid to be alone with your
baby
- that life just isn't worth
living
- Lasts weeks or months
- Can start anywhere between one to six months after the
birth.
What causes
PND?
We don't know – but you are more likely to
have PND if you have had depression before, you do not have a
supportive partner, your baby is unwell, you lost your own mother
when you were a child, or you have had several stresses in a short
time.
What can I
do?
Health visitors and GPs will be looking out
for depression. If you feel down, tell someone.
What about
talking treatments?
Talking helps – this could be a friend, a
relative, or a professional. Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy helps you to overcome depression by
exploring how you think about yourself. Other types of therapy can
help you to understand the depression in terms of what has happened
to you in the past.
Are there
problems with therapy?
Taking treatments are very safe, but
sometimes they may bring up bad memories from the past or put a
strain on your relationship with your partner. A good therapist
should avoid this.
What about
antidepressants?
These may help if your depression is severe or
not improving. They take a few weeks to start working and should be
taken for four to six months.
Do they have
side-effects?
They can make you feel anxious or sick
early on, but these usually wear off. They can make you sleepy or
give you a dry mouth. It is possible to breastfeed while taking
some antidepressants. Some people get
withdrawal symptoms when they stop, so it's best to reduce
slowly.
Are there
alternatives?
Regular exercise can help – it can be easier
if you do this with other people.
Hormones probably don’t work well and they
have their own dangers, particularly if you have had thrombosis
(blood clots in the veins).
Which treatment
is best?
Talking treatments and antidepressants are
equally effective, but antidepressants are more likely to help if
the depression is severe or has gone on for a long time. Talking
treatments and antidepressants can be given together.
What if I don't
want treatment?
You will probably get better without any
treatment after a period of months. But depression may affect your
relationship with your baby and partner. So the shorter it lasts,
the better.
Preventing
PND
We don't yet know enough about PND to
prevent it in the first place, but these things make
sense:
DON'T
- try to be 'superwoman' - make sure that you don't over-tire
yourself.
- move house (if possible) when pregnant or until baby is six
months old.
- blame yourself - life is tough at this time.
- be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
DO
- rest as much as you can.
- get enough nourishment.
- find time to have fun with your partner.
- let yourself and your partner be intimate if you can.
- make friends with other couples in a similar situation.
- find someone to talk to. If you can't try the National
Childbirth Trust or MAMA – they organise groups.
- go to ante-natal classes – and take your partner.
- keep in touch with your GP and health visitor if you have had
PND before.
What can a
partner or family do?
- Take the time to listen
- Try not to be shocked or disappointed by the
diagnosis – it can be treated.
- Give practical help like shopping, feeding,
changing the baby, or housework.
FINALLY, even if you have
been depressed for a while, support, counselling and medication can
all help. It's never too late.
This leaflet is made available through the
generosity of the Charitable Monies Allocation Committee of the
mental health charity St Andrew's, Northampton
Updated November 2008. This is an abridged
version of our main leaflet.
Copyright (2008) Royal College
of Psychiatrists http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/.
You can link to, download, print, photocopy and distribute this
leaflet free of charge. But you must not change it or repost it on
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and Wales) 228936 and in Scotland SC038369.
Please note that we are unable to offer advice on individual cases. Please see our FAQ for advice on getting help.
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