Tamworth Post Natal Depression Support Group

A weird and paradoxical symptom of post-natal depression is the guilt that you are being a bad mother. Stop wanting to be a perfect mother and aim instead to be a "good enough mother". Try to let the housework go a little...it really doesn't matter. And children do not need homemade organic food every day either. Tell yourself what a great mum you are. All the evidence shows that mothers with post-natal illness are at least as good at mothering as those without. The fact that you feel guilty shows your love for your child.

Yes, it is very difficult when you feel like this, but exercise has been shown to have real benefits for depression. Exercise reIeases endorphins often known as "happy hormones" which lift your mood in the short term and help to reset your brain patterns in the longer term. A brisk walk with the pram would be a good start.

Many mums feel that if they just keep busy and get on with life, things will right themselves. But it seems that the mind needs time to assimilate things and come to terms with your symptoms before you can mentally and physically move on. So, for example although going straight back to work might seem like the best thing, it may actually prolong the illness.

Take as much rest as you can. This is very important, as tiredness seems to make depression worse. If you can, try and get a rest on your bed, every day, and sleep if possible. Avoid late nights if you can, and try to get someone else to feed the baby at night. Some doctors believe that rest, peace and quiet, after the birth can help to prevent post-natal depression, so rest must play an important part in your convalescence.

Research has shown that talking to people about the way you feel can be as effective as taking antidepressants. In one study 80% of mums recovered after seeing their health visitor for one hour a week for just 8 weeks. Tell your family and friends. Talk to them about how you are feeling. Tell them you will get better and the old you will reappear but for now, you are ill and need special understanding. Maybe print out this page and hand it to everyone who cares about you.

Accept that you have an illness and cannot carry on as usual.

Accept that your needs are important and can be met.

Build time for yourself every day.

Seek and ask for help whenever possible.

Don’t feel guilty.

Don’t plan further than a day at a time.

Eat properly, little and often is best.

Rest as much as you can when you feel like it.

Try to get help with chores.

Write down thoughts, this makes them real.

Make a note when you have a good day.

Talk about your feelings with someone you trust.

If you cannot sleep don’t worry, listen to music or relax

Hormone balance undergoes a massive change following childbirth. Some women feel they gain relief through progesterone hormone therapy, however this is unproven as yet.

These may be offered to some women especially when PND is persistent and distressing. Antidepressants even out a mood and are not addictive. They need to be taken for some time before the full benefits are felt ad should not be stopped without advice from your health professional. Some women are worried that they must stop breastfeeding when taking antidepressants, a small amount may be passed into breast milk but there is no clear-cut evidence to suggest this will affect the baby.

In Tamworth there is a Postnatal Depression Support Group.

Women may be referred to by their health professional.
Women meet every week at St Paul’s Church in Glascote Heath with a midwife, health visitor and community psychiatric nurse and discuss their anxieties, fears and draw strength from each other.

This group has become an important part of the strategy for care of postnatally depressed women.

“It was like living in a black fog”.

“I cried all the time, I had no control over my feelings”.

“I thought I was going to die or that my baby would”.

“I was scared by the feelings that I was experiencing”.

“I was so lonely and frightened that I could not tell anyone”.