BumpNotFrump

Postnatal Depression And Baby Blues

Having a baby should be a happy occasion but for some nw mums it can start a serious illness. Most mums experience some form of the "baby blues", a brief period of depression in the days following giving birth when hormone levels drop. However, postnatal depression (PND) lasts for a longer period of time.

Postnatal depression affects at least one in ten new mothers, however as sufferers tend to hide their feelings the real number could be much higher. The problem of admitting you have postnatal depression and the fear of being seen as "not able to cope" is the biggest cause of attempted suicide for mothers within a year of childbirth - but women with postnatal depression respond well to treatment.

What is the difference between Postnatal Depression (PND) and normal depression?

The symptoms of PND are very similar to those of ordinary depression, but doctors tell the difference with a test called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, which asks ten questions about emotions.

How long after giving birth can you be diagnosed?

Postnatal depression can be diagnosed a few days after birth, but some mothers are diagnosed more than six months after giving birth. One of the characteristics of PND is pretending to cope, as many women find it difficult to admit they don't feel good.

What triggers PND?

Doctors believe postnatal depression may be triggered by a large hormonal changes in a new mothers brain. After the birth, the feel good hormones of oestrogen and progesterone are reduced as the body no longer produces the amount needed during pregnancy.

A withdrawal effect begins, similar to stopping drug or alcohol consumption, which coupled with the shock of the birth, altered relationships with a partner or family and exhaustion from looking after a new baby can bring on PND.

Why are some mothers affected and not others?

Some women may be more sensitive than others to hormonal and environment changes etc. and women who have suffered from some form of depression before becoming pregnant could be more prone to postnatal depression. Women who are high achievers or place a great deal of pressure upon themselves are also at a higher risk.

What are the symptoms of Postnatal depression?

Mild symptoms include feeling tired all the time, crying a lot or feeling tearful, loss of appetite, having difficulty concentrating and having problems making decisions.

Moderate symptoms include feeling generally depressed or low and hopeless. Sufferers may experience disrupted sleeping, anxiety and guilt, feeling bad about not coping or not loving their new baby enough. Sufferers may have difficulty bonding with their baby and have obsessive thoughts about the baby's wellbeing, or thoughts about death. They may lose interest in sex and feel angry or indifferent towards a partner.

Severe symptoms are reffered to as puerperal psychosis and can include suicidal thoughts, occuring in one in every 500 mums. Symptoms include manic behaviour, hallucinations and delusions. Women with a previous mental disorder or a family hitstory of mental illness are most at risk.

What help is available for Postnatal depression?

Treatment for postnatal depression is similar to that of ordinary depression and includes counselling, antidepressants, psychotherapy and sometimes hormone supplements.

Women who are breast-feeding should seek medical advice before taking any antidepressants.

If you are experiencing symptoms of Postnatal Depression you should confide in a health visitor, doctor, partner, family or friends which is a good first step towards getting the help that is needed.

Celebrity Sufferers

A number of celebrity mothers have spoken out about their experience of Post Natal Depression, helping to highlight the problem.

Jordan

When her second son, Junior was born in June 2005, Jordan, 27, found it hard to bond with him. "I wasn't bothered about touching Junior. I was just a wreck. My doctor referred me to the Priory. I got everything off my chest and they put me on antidepressants. Next time I'm going to do things differently. I'm not going to put myself under pressure."

Sadie Frost

Sadie, 40, got PND in 2002 after her son Rudy was born prematurely. "I just couldn't cope and found it really hard to talk to anyone," she said. "The PND ate up everything. Looking back, I can't believe I felt like that. But I was really lucky to have friends who were supportive."

Brooke Shields

The actress, 40, struggled to conceive but had her daughter Rowan in 2003 after having IVF treatment. Brroke then suffered from severe PND and contelplated suicide. "I had no desire to pick her up," admitted Brooke, who had a second daughter, Grier. "I remember looking out of my window and considering jumping."

Gail Porter

Gail, 35, broke down with the illness after the birth of daughter Honey, three, and was prescribed the antidepressant Prozac after being unable to stop crying and constantly worrying she was a bad mum. "Lots of people suffer from it," she said. "There is nothing to be embarassed about."

Natasha Hamilton

The 23-year old singer was diagnosed with PND in 2003, 14 months after the birth of her son, Josh. She quit Atomic Kitten after her doctor ordered her to take time off work. "I was surprised when the doctor told me, but glad to know I wasn't losing the plot," she explained. "I wondered why I was feeling so down. I was crying a lot and everything got on top of me."

Elle Macphereson

Elle, 43, checked herself into The Meadows clinic in Arizone eight months after the birth of her second son, Aurelius Cy in February 2003. "I had postnatal depression and I took the steps I needed to take in order to recover," she said.