Having a baby is a huge life event and it can be an extremely emotional and testing time.
It’s natural to experience a whole range of emotions during and after pregnancy, including feelings or worry and despair.
But if you experience persistent feeling of sadness, lack energy and lose interest in the world around you, you could be suffer from a mental health problem.
Around one in five women experience some kind of mental health problem during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth.
These are known as perinatal mental health problems. The most common is postnatal or postpartum depression, which affects one in ten women according to the NHS.
Many women feel a bit down, tearful or anxious in the first week after giving birth. This is often called the “baby blues” and is so common that it’s considered normal.
The “baby blues” don’t last for more than two weeks after giving birth. If your symptoms last longer or start later, you could have postnatal depression.
Postnatal depression can affect women in different ways. It can start at any point in the first year after giving birth and may develop suddenly or gradually.
Common symptoms of postnatal depression include:
1. A persistent feeling of sadness and low mood
2. Loss of interest in the world around you and no longer enjoying things that used to give you pleasure
3. Lack of energy and feeling tired all the time
4. Trouble sleeping at night and feeling sleepy during the day
5. Feeling that you’re unable to look after your baby
6. Problems concentrating and making decisions
7. Loss of appetite or an increased appetite (comfort eating)
8. Feeling agitated, irritable or very apathetic (you “can’t be bothered”)
9. Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and self-blame
10. Difficulty bonding with your baby with a feeling of indifference and no sense of enjoyment in his or her company
11. Frightening thoughts – for example, about hurting your baby; these can be scary, but they’re very rarely acted upon
12. Thinking about suicide and self-harm
These symptoms can affect your day-to-day life and your relationships with your baby, family and friends.
A number of celebrities have spoken out about suffering with the condition, including Adele, Chrissy Teigen and Drew Barrymore, which has helped raise awareness of the condition.
Traditionally, postnatal depression is treated with therapy or antidepressants.
However, a new non-invasive option called TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain cells which claims to reverse the symptoms of mental health conditions in just a few weeks.
If you think you may be depressed, talk to your GP or health visitor as soon as possible so you can access the support you need.
SOURCE: Daily Star
