Postnatal Depression

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby.

It's a common problem, affecting more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners, although this is less common.

It's important to seek help as soon as possible if you think you might be depressed, as your symptoms could last months or get worse and have a significant impact on you, your baby and your family.

Common symptoms of postnatal depression

The main symptoms include:

a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood
loss of interest in the world around you and no longer enjoying things that used to give you pleasure
lack of energy and feeling tired all the time
trouble sleeping at night and feeling sleepy during the day
feeling that you're unable to look after your baby
problems concentrating and making decisions
loss of appetite or an increased appetite (comfort eating)
feeling agitated, irritable or very apathetic (you "can't be bothered")
feelings of guilt, hopelessness and self-blame
difficulty bonding with your baby with a feeling of indifference and no sense of enjoyment in his or her company
frightening thoughts – for example, about hurting your baby; these can be scary, but they're very rarely acted upon
thinking about suicide and self-harm

These symptoms can affect your day-to-day life and your relationships with your baby, family and friends.

If you think you may be depressed, contact info@beibeihaven.org as soon as possible so you can access the support you need.

Don't struggle on alone and hope the problem will go away. It can continue for months or years if not addressed.

Postnatal Depression