You may find that you need extra help and support after the birth
of your baby. It helps if you know what to expect - and where to
find the information you need.
Postnatal depression (PND) is quite
common. It affects around 15% of new mothers, but many more feel
tired, low, occasionally distressed, isolated and lonely. It
usually starts about three weeks or so after the birth but can
become evident many months after you have had your baby. There is
no fixed timeframe or formula for how you are supposed to feel.
Isolation does seem to be part of postnatal depression. It can
be hard to get out and about and to stay in touch with friends when
you have a new baby. Or when you do get out, everyone seems to be
coping better than you are - and you feel even worse than
before.
It could be that guilt and disappointment are part of
depression. Maybe you feel bad because you don't think you love
your baby as much as you feel you should. Or you thought being a
mum would be wonderful - and it just isn't. There are many reasons
that a mum can feel like she is not coping with her role as
mother.
Some experts think the cause might be connected with your
changing hormones, among other things that can affect your abilty
to cope. These are some of the feelings you might have if you have
postnatal depression:
- You wake up feeling exhausted, every day, even after a long
sleep.
- You can't sleep, no matter how tired and exhausted you
are.
- You find it hard to concentrate on something, or organise
yourself, or other simple tasks.
- Small things take on huge importance and you may find it hard
to put them into perspective.
- You feel you're a failure as a mum.
- You can't feel much, as if experiences are happening to someone
else.
- You find yourself feeling tearful, and sometimes weeping, and
you aren't sure why.
- You lose track of time, and find hours go by and you can't be
sure what you've been doing.
You need help if you have any of these symptoms occur often
enough to worry you. Everyone feels tired, sad and a bit weepy from
time to time - but if this is the usual thing for you, then you may
have postnatal depression.
Who to ask for help:
Your baby health centre is trained to offer support to women
with postnatal depression, and to advise when further help from
your doctor or elsewhere would be useful. They may be able to put
you in touch with other mums or other support services in your
local community.
Your doctor may prescribe anti-depressants, or refer you to
other forms of help. Some medications can have an affect on your
baby if you are breastfeeding so it's important to consider this
when organising your treatment. Friends, your partner and family
can also help and support you. You don't need to hide how bad you
feel - you deserve a lot of support at this time. A counsellor or
psychotherapist (via your doctor) can also help. 'Talking therapy'
is regarded as the most effective in the treatment of PND. There are now Medicare rebates available
for some psychological treatments.
The important point is that PND is
curable and managable - with the right help.
Your baby needs you to feel okay too, so it is worth asking for
the help that you need.
Postnatal mental illness
Don't confuse postnatal depression with the 'baby blues' some
women have after the birth for no more than a few days.
About one new mum in every 500 has an especially severe form of
postnatal mental illness called puerperal psychosis. This means she
may have hallucinations, or stay awake for days, or be extremely
'high' and energetic. It's always obvious to the people around the
mum that something's not right. This form of illness is not
postnatal depression, and it needs immediate medical help. Some
women need to be in hospital for the right sort of help.