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Post Natal Depression can occur anytime during the first year after delivery though most cases present in the first 4-6 weeks. Sometimes PND starts right after delivery but it can also develop more slowly, often becoming evident
3-4 months following the birth.
It is very common for a mother with Post Natal Depression to be unaware of what is happening to her and, if she has never experienced depression before, she may well not realise what is happening to her until the illness has become established and debilitating. Often looking after a little one means that the mother's focus is on the baby, not herself, and she may not pick up on warning signs of which she might otherwise have been aware. She may also be unwilling to acknowledge that something is wrong. A woman who is developing Post Natal Depression may initally have symptoms of anxiety and so may not recognise her symptoms as 'Post Natal Depression' since depression is only one symptom of the illness - see Post Natal Depression Facts for more information.
There are a number of warning signs which can mean that a woman is developing Post Natal Depression. These are listed below:
Warning Signs That You May be Developing PND:
- difficulty falling asleep
- early morning waking, unable to get back to sleep
- palpitations
- panicky feelings, panic attacks
- feeling like you are putting on a front, forcing yourself to do things when all you want to do is sleep
- feeling of overwhelming exhaustion like you have gone past the point where a good night's sleep would make you feel better
- exhaustion following the birth which has developed into extreme fatigue rather than resolving itself within a few weeks following delivery
- bouts of weeping over things which would not normally provoke such a reaction
- short tempered, snappy behaviour
- desperation for rest, feeling trapped and unable to find a moment to relax
- headache, night sweats, bleary vision
If you think you have any of the warning signs or just 'aren't feeling yourself' do talk to someone you trust and go and see your GP or other Medical Practitioner if only for reassurance. If your are developing Post Natal Depression, the quicker you receive treatment the faster you will recover. It's natural to be apprehensive that your doctor may prescribe medication. If you feel that way see our section on medication for advice on what to expect.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS BELOW YOU NEED IMMEDIATE HELP:
- severe Insomnia (i.e, no sleep at all )
- loss of control
- loss of confidence (i.e, fear and social withdrawal e.g. fear of leaving house, of social interaction i.e, going to mother and baby groups or seeing friends, fear/withdrawal from looking after baby, fear of being on own)
- thoughts of self harm
- thoughts of harming the baby
- scary fantasies
- hallucinations
Feeling Better
You may well not need medication to begin feeling better. If your symptoms are mild often just talking about how you feel can make a huge difference and you may find additional support from friends and family and perhaps some talking therapy is all you need to feel a lot better. The following tips will help you to feel better:
- Get some time to yourself every day e.g. have a bath, go for a walk, paint your nails, go out with your partner or a friend for a few hours while someone you trust babysits - even a very small baby is capable of spending a short period away from you, especially if you are only a few minutes drive away and take your mobile with you so that you can get home quickly if need be
- Rest - spend time every day on the sofa with your feet up as you would if you had flu or had just had a major operation - watch a few good DVDs
- Let go of the housework and washing for a while - if you can, enlist the help of someone else to do it for you for a while
- Buy ready meals - there are some very nice ones out there which are nutritious and freshly made
- Get out of the house every day even if just for a short walk around the block - fresh air will make you feel better
- Go to bed early - see if someone else, your partner, a friend, your mother, can help with the night feed; if you are breast feeding try expressing or you may consider introducing a bottle at night; be aware that tiredness will make depression worse
- Abandon any attempts to force your baby into a rigid routine if you are finding that stressful, throw out any baby advice books and 'go with the flow' - focus on getting to know your baby and their individual needs
- Try to be flexible, e.g with sleep times, feeding times etc - it's less stressful for you and your baby
- Notice the good stuff: something your baby did, a flower, a nice meal
- Have as much to do with the baby as you can; the housework can wait
If your symptoms are more severe you mustn't ignore them and hope they will go away as this is not something you should try to ride out on your own because you are ashamed of admitting how you feel. The longer you leave it the worse it may become and this will only make your journey to recovery longer.
Acknowledging that you are not feeling well is the first step to recovery.
You are not letting anyone down by seeking help. The best you can give your baby is a mother who is in control and taking steps to make herself feel 100% again. If you need a little extra help with the baby and house, that's fine too. PND is an illness so don't try to be superhuman. You WILL feel back to your usual self again and the faster you seek help the faster that will happen.
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