Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
| | A | | | B | | | C | | | D | | | E | | | F | | | G | | | H | | | I | | | J | | | K | | | L | | | M | |
| | N | | | O | | | P | | | Q | | | R | | | S | | | T | | | U | | | V | | | W | | | X | | | Y | |
Symptoms of Post-natal depression
Postnatal depression affects different women in different ways. Many mothers don’t recognise that they have PND and don’t talk to family and friends about how they are feeling.
The symptoms of PND are similar to depression that occurs at other times and for other reasons. They usually include one or more of the following:
- constant tiredness or exhaustion,
- sleeping problems,
- tearfulness,
- lack of appetite,
- lack of interest in the new baby,
- lack of motivation,
- panic attacks,
- difficulty concentrating,
- feeling lonely,
- sense of feeling overwhelmed,
- loss of sex drive,
- feeling guilty and unable to cope, and
- physical signs of tension, such as headaches, stomach pains or blurred vision.
PND can interfere with your day-to-day life. Some women feel unable to look after their baby, and others feel too anxious to leave the house or keep in touch with friends. It is important to remember, however, that symptoms such as lack of appetite and low sex drive are normal after childbirth and don’t always mean you are depressed.
Some women get thoughts about harming their baby. This is quite common and affects around half the women with postnatal depression. You may also have thoughts about harming or killing yourself. Thoughts like these do not mean you are a bad or unfit mother, and it is very rare for either mother or baby to be harmed. However, it is very important to see your GP if you have these or any other symptoms of PND. Treatment will benefit both your health, the healthy development of your baby, and your relationship with you partner, family and friends.
