Postnatal depression

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby.

It's a common problem, affecting more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners.

It's important to seek help as soon as possible if you think you might be depressed, as your symptoms could last months or get worse and have a significant impact on you, your baby and your family.

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

Many women 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" do not last for more than 2 weeks after giving birth.

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

Postnatal depression can start any time in the first year after giving birth.

Signs that you or someone you know might be depressed include:

a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood
lack of enjoyment and loss of interest in the wider world
lack of energy and feeling tired all the time
trouble sleeping at night and feeling sleepy during the day
difficulty bonding with your baby
withdrawing from contact with other people
problems concentrating and making decisions
frightening thoughts – for example, about hurting your baby

Many women do not realise they have postnatal depression, because it can develop gradually.

Getting help for postnatal depression

Speak to a GP or your health visitor if you think you may be depressed.

Many health visitors have been trained to recognise postnatal depression and have techniques that can help.

If they cannot help, they'll know someone in your area who can.

Encourage your partner to seek help if you think they might be having problems.

Do not struggle alone hoping that the problem will go away.

Remember that:

a range of help and support is available, including therapy
depression is an illness like any other
it's not your fault you're depressed – it can happen to anyone
being depressed does not mean you're a bad parent
it does not mean you're going mad
your baby will not be taken away from you – babies are only taken into care in very exceptional circumstances

Postnatal depression can be lonely, distressing and frightening, but support and effective treatments are available.

These include:

self-help – things you can try yourself include talking to your family and friends about your feelings and what they can do to help, making time for yourself to do things you enjoy, resting whenever you get the chance, getting as much sleep as you can at night, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet
psychological therapy – a GP may be able to recommend a self-help course or may refer you for a course of therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
antidepressants – these may be recommended if your depression is more severe or other treatments have not helped; your doctor can prescribe a medicine that's safe to take while breastfeeding

Local and national organisations, such as the Association for Post Natal Illness (APNI) and Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support (PANDAS), can also be useful sources of help and advice.

What causes postnatal depression?

The cause of postnatal depression is not completely clear.

Some of the factors it has been associated with include:

a history of mental health problems, particularly depression, earlier in life
a history of mental health problems during pregnancy
having no close family or friends to support you
a poor relationship with your partner
recent stressful life events, such as a bereavement
experiencing the "baby blues"

Even if you do not have any of these symptoms, having a baby is a life-changing event that can sometimes trigger depression.

It often takes time to adapt to becoming a new parent. Looking after a small baby can be stressful and exhausting.

Can postnatal depression be prevented?

Although there have been several studies into preventing postnatal depression, there's no evidence that there's anything specific you can do to prevent the condition developing, apart from maintaining as healthy a lifestyle as you can for yourself.

But if you have a history of depression or mental health problems, or you have a family history of mental health problems after childbirth, tell a GP or your mental health team if you're pregnant or thinking about having a baby.

This is so they can offer you appropriate monitoring and treatment, if necessary.

If you have had a mental health problem while pregnant, your doctor should arrange for you to be seen regularly in the first few weeks after birth.

Myths about postnatal depression

Postnatal depression is often misunderstood and there are many myths surrounding it.