As many as 1 in 5 new mums are believed to suffer with postnatal depression or anxiety. While it is normal to feel tired and
a bit overwhelmed at times when you have a new baby, postnatal illness is a very different story.
If you, or someone close to
you is suffering with symptoms of anxiety or depression in pregnancy please read on, the help and support you need is here at Mothersvoice.org.uk.
Symptoms
- Difficulty
concentrating or making decisions
- Memory loss
- Anxiety or fears about the baby being harmed or you harming your child.
- Difficulties
bonding with your baby
- Feeling irritable with people around you.
- Difficulty sleeping or not wanting to get out of bed
- Anxiety or panic
attacks in situations that don’t usually provoke these fears
- Feeling like a failure, feelings of guilt
- Feeling very tearful, angry
or anxious/panicky
- Thoughts of death or suicide or self harm
Factors that increase the likelihood of developing postnatal depression
- Previous
history of mental illness either in yourself or a close relative.
- History of fertility treatment or pregnancy loss.
- Financial or housing
worries.
- Lack of family support or limited social network
- Physical illness during pregnancy.
- Whether this pregnancy was planned.
- Traumatic
events either before or during the pregnancy.
- Childhood or adult sexual abuse.
Treatment for postnatal depression/anxiety
Medication
Depending
on the severity of your symptoms you might be prescribed antidepressant medication to help with your postnatal illness.
There is medication
available that can be taken if you are breastfeeding.
A course of antidepressants usually lasts around eight to twelve months
but everyone is unique and their recovery time equally so.
Counselling
This may be useful and other therapies are sometimes recommended
such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Self help
This includes maintaining a healthy diet and not skipping meals whereby
mood will dip along with blood sugar levels.
Ensuring caffeine, processed and sugary food intake is kept to a minimum to avoid
rapid highs in mood which are then followed by drastic lows.
Get plenty of rest – like any illness you need to rest well in order
to recover
Don’t be scared to ask for help – postnatal depression is not an indicator on how good you are as a mother, it is an illness
so please speak to your health visitor, Gp, partner, friends.
Postnatal Illness is temporary and treatable –with the right treatment
and support you will get better.
Disclaimer:
This website provides only support and information,
it does not give medical advice. Any support given should not replace any advice given by your own medical professional. Please do
not rely on this website to respond to your post immediately.
In an emergency always call 999 or go to you nearest Accident &
Emergency department.
For non-emergency but still serious cases please call your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.