Perinatal Depression
What is Perinatal Depression?
Symptoms
Puerperal psychosis
Causes
Treatment
Men are affected too
Further information and support
What is Perinatal Depression and who gets it?
Perinatal Depression occurs either before or after the birth of a baby.
- Depression which occurs during pregnancy is called Antinatal Depression
- Depression which after the birth of a baby is called Postnatal Depression.
For every 1000 live births, 100-150 mothers will be affected by Depression.
Postnatal Depression should not be confused with the ‘baby blues’ where a mother may feel low in the first few days after the birth (though those having the baby blues may be at more risk of developing Postnatal Depression later).
Having Depression with the first baby does not necessarily mean it will recur with subsequent births. Or a mother may not be Depressed with the first baby but it may happen after a subsequent birth when extra pressures to ensure care of all children is given.
Symptoms of Perinatal Depression
Symptoms can include:
- low mood
- constant sadness without reason
- appetite problems
- general neglect of self
- sleep disturbance
- lack of interest in the baby
- anxiety and worry
Visit our page about Depression for more information about the symptoms of Depression.
“You think you should be happy because you’ve got a baby and everyone else is happy but you’re not coping”
Mother with Postnatal Depression
Puerperal psychosis
About 1 or 2 mothers in every 1000 may develop an illness called puerperal psychosis in the first few days after birth. Puerperal psychosis is a mood disorder accompanied by features such as loss of contact with reality, hallucinations, severe thought disturbance, and abnormal behaviour.
Causes
Changes in hormones can contribute towards Perinatal Depression in some mothers but the illness can also arise because of various losses when becoming a parent:
- Loss of confidence – looking after your baby can be a very steep learning curve involving the baby’s character too! A mother may have been skilled in her job of work and it is not easy to adapt to this completely different role.
- Loss of identity – we all carry and are seen to have various roles in our lives from daughter to friend to worker to partner – the role of motherhood is perhaps the most powerful role away from self.
- There can be financial loss from leaving work and from costs of the child’s needs.
- Loss of time and space, including during the night.
Other contributing factors can include:
- A difficult pregnancy
- Body image changes both during and after pregnancy
- A difficult labour
- Problems breast feeding
- A crying baby
- Unresolved issues or childhood trauma
- Being told how lucky you are and to pull yourself together and count your blessings
- The ultimate fear of not being a good mother and having your baby taken into care
- Poor relationships
- Other unresolved problems
- Sleeplessness
“I spent the first few months feeling disappointed and guilty and felt frustrated by the demands of my baby. I had turned into a person I barely recognised. I kept telling myself I should just get over it. This was how it was going to be, and yet that made me feel worse.”
Mother with Postnatal Depression
Treatment
Perinatel Depression is a treatable illness. Treatment may include antidepressants (taking into account if the person is pregnant or breastfeeding) and counselling. Childcare may be organised to give mum a break. There are a number of organisations listed under further information and support who can offer additional help and support
“Slowly things began to get better. I found myself crying less and beginning to enjoy life again. It was such a relief to find that life could be different and that I was going to get through this.”
Mother with Postnatal Depression
Men are affected too
It is an issue that is often neglected but a study published in the Lancet in 2005 found that up to one in twenty five men also suffers from postnatal Depression. The study examined parents taking part in the Children of the Nineties project in Bristol, which is following the fortunes of thousands of families. It examined more than 8,000 fathers and found that eight weeks after the birth of their child, 3.6 per cent appeared to be suffering from Depression. Many of the organisations listed under further information and support will offer support for men too.
Further information and support
Bluebell at Parentline Scotland Helpline for Postnatal Depression.
Freephone: 0800 3457 457 (free from landlines). Lines are open from 9am to 5pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 9am to 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Project
Provides individual counselling, therapy groups, crèche facilities, art therapy, infant massage and telephone support.. Groups also run in the Borders and Linlithgow.
0131 220 3547 or 0131 538 7288
HAPIS (Highland Antenatal and Postnatal Illness Support)
Support and information for mothers affected by antinatal or postnatal illness in the Highlands. They offer telephone support, home visits, weekly meetings, GP visits and Information giving.
0775 468 7423
www.hapis.org.uk
Bluebell Day
An annual awareness raising day for Post Natal Depression usually in June www.bluebellday.org.uk/
SIGN guidelines on Post Natal Depression and Post-puerperal Pyschosis
www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/60/
The Associaton for Post Natal Illness
145 Dawes Road, Fulham, London, UK, SW6 7EE
020 7386 0868
info@apni.org
http://www.apni.org/