The chances are that the last time you saw your doctor was for your final Ante-Natal Check-up. You were massive, everything was focussed on the birth and you never imagined you might be visiting your doctor for a very different reason only a matter of weeks or months later.

Going to see your doctor if you think you have PND can be a really big deal. If you have no history of depression this will be the first time you have openly talked about the subject and this in itself can be very daunting. It's one thing to admit to yourself that you don't feel quite right, but telling that to your doctor is probably your first open admission that things are not as they should be.

BE BRAVE - YOUR DOCTOR WILL BE SYMPATHETIC AND WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO TO HELP YOU

Remember that your doctor will have treated many other women with PND in the past and will not be shocked by the symptoms you describe - and this includes the awful thoughts that can accompany PND and which are so hard to talk about.

DESCRIBING YOUR SYMPTOMS, HOWEVER SCARY THEY ARE, DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOUR BABY WILL BE TAKEN AWAY OR YOU WILL BE JUDGED A BAD MOTHER. YOUR DOCTOR IS NOT THERE TO JUDGE ONLY TO LISTEN AND TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

Your first visit to your doctor is a big step but you will find that once you have made that first step a tremendous feeling of relief will come over you - you are not dealing with this alone anymore - going to see your doctor is the first step in your recovery.

Tips for visiting your doctor

• Arrange for someone you trust to look after your baby at home or in the waiting room while you go in so that you are not distracted during your appointment
• If you attend with your baby, make sure you have milk and/or a dummy available if your baby starts to cry
• Ask your partner or a friend to accompany you for support - this will really help, especially when you come out of the surgery as you will want to talk through what has been said
• Having your partner or a friend there in the waiting room will boost your confidence, particularly if you are nervous or ashamed about the fact you have PND
• If you are ashamed of your symptoms and don't want to admit their true nature to your partner go alone so that you can talk confidentially with your doctor. Ultimately this is about you and your recovery
• Remember that the people in the waiting room cannot tell what is wrong with you
• If you see another mother, maybe someone from your ante-natal group, remember they cannot tell you have PND - just say you are here to have the baby checked over if they enquire and you don't want them to know what is wrong or give them some other reason
• Do not let yourself think that all the other mothers in the waiting room are perfect and you are the failure - that is not true - for all you know they could all have PND and just not be talking about it
• Make a list of anything you want to ask your doctor in advance so that you don't forget anything while you are with your doctor - this is especially useful if you are having difficulty concentrating and your memory is not working the way it used to, which can happen with PND
• Whilst you are in the throes of PND each visit to see your doctor is a big milestone in your life and you may well find that your life revolves around your doctor's surgery for a while - this can be a bit odd if you have not ever been there for anything more than the odd cold in the past. Remember that this state of affairs is temporary. There will come a time when all this seems a long time ago and you are back to normal - hold on to that thought
• Don't always go straight home after each visit - go out for lunch or a cup of tea and some cake if you feel up to it - this will take your mind off your doctor's visit and put things in perspective - your life is so much more than visits to the doctor - there are things for you to do which, as you recover, will become carefree and enoyable just as they were before you became ill
• And lastly, remember

YOU WILL RECOVER!