Advice and resources : Postnatal depression advice

Overview

Postnatal depression (PND) is a common mental health condition that affects people after having a baby. It is also known as postpartum depression (PPD).

Postnatal depression is common and affects more than 1 in 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners. 

Postnatal depression can be treated, so it's important to get help.

What you may see or feel

The main symptom of postnatal depression is a low mood that lasts more than two weeks.

Other symptoms include:

• trouble sleeping (even when you get time to rest)
• worrying all the time
• find it hard to enjoy anything
• feeling like you can't cope
• finding it hard to concentrate or make decisions
• loss of appetite (not wanting to eat) or losing weight without trying
• finding people around you annoying
• trouble bonding with your baby

Many women feel a bit sad, tearful, or anxious in the first two weeks after giving birth. This is called the 'baby blues' and is normal. If your symptoms last longer or start later, you could have postnatal depression.

Postnatal depression can start any time in the first year after the birth of your baby. It can develop slowly, so may be hard to spot.

When depression is more severe, you may have thoughts of not wanting to be here or of wanting to harm yourself or your baby.

There is no known cause for postnatal depression, but it has been linked with:

• a history of mental health problems
• a family history of mental health problems after childbirth
• a lack of support around you
• stressful life events
• a poor relationship with your partner

If you are pregnant and may be at risk of postnatal depression, tell your GP. They can monitor you and offer treatment if needed.

What you can do

Getting help when you need quickly will mean you can get advice and treatment fast and give your baby the best start.

If you think you might have postnatal depression, talk to your GP, health visitor, or other healthcare professional. You won’t be telling them anything they haven’t heard before and they’ll get help for you.

If you’re given medication, such as anti-depressants, make sure you take them as prescribed. Don’t just stop taking them when you start to feel better – speak to your GP first.

These are some things you can try to lift your mood:

• Ask for help if you need it.
• Let partners, friends, and family help you. If they're annoying you, it’s okay to ask for time to be alone.
• Keep in contact with friends, even if it's just a short phone call or texts.
• Do something each day. It doesn't matter how small it might seem. You can look back and say you did it.
• Try to make time to do things you enjoy and rest whenever you can.
• Exercise and eat a healthy diet.
• Talk to friends and family about your feelings. If you find this hard, try writing it down and ask them to read it. It will help them understand how you feel.
• Spend time cuddling, talking, and reading to your baby.
• On a bad day, getting out of bed can be a win by itself.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

If you had a very stressful, scary, or upsetting birth, or if you lost a baby, you may develop PTSD. This is known as perinatal PTSD.

Symptoms include:

• bad dreams or nightmares about the event
• being unable to stop thinking about what happened.
• feeling more emotional (angry, annoyed, or sad)
• avoiding thinking or talking about what happened
• distracting yourself by drinking, taking drugs, or doing too much cleaning, work, or exercise

Some people improve over time, but others may feel worse.

If you, or someone close to you, are struggling, please speak to your GP, health visitor, or other healthcare professional about your concerns.

Perinatal PTSD can be treated. 

Download the document below to read about a patient's shares experience of birth trauma, PTSD, and her recovery.

When to ask for help

If you have any of the symptoms described above and they last for more than two weeks, speak to your GP or health visitor. Get help as soon as possible if you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.

If your GP or health visitor think you need extra support, they can refer you to the right service. They may recommend a self-help course or refer you for therapy. 

If your depression is more severe, or other treatments haven't helped, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant that's safe to use while breastfeeding.

Helpful resources

Baby Buddy

An app providing pregnancy and parenting advice.

• Visit the Babyzone website

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)

Independent healthcare charity which advocates and cares for women and couples who decide to end a pregnancy.

• Visit the BPAS website

The Loss Collective

The Loss Collective is a group of professionals and lived experience experts offering support, education, and guidance to anyone affected by baby loss or seeking to support others through it.

• Visit the Loss Collective website

Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA)

Support for mental health conditions before, during, and after pregnancy.

• Visit the MMHA website

Number 22 Counselling (Windsor and Maidenhead)

Offer free and confidential counselling primarily to young people aged 12-25 and those who care for them through an appointment-based service for as long as they need it.

• Visit the Number 22 Counselling website

PANDAS

Support for parents affected by perinatal mental illness.

• Visit the PANDAS website

Sands

Is the UK’s leading charity supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby and working to reduce baby loss through research, education, and advocacy.

• Visit the Sands website

Tommy’s

Support for parents who have experienced baby loss.

• Visit the Tommy's website