Tamworth Post Natal Depression Support Group

Accept that she has an illness – she is not feeling sorry for herself. Show her you care – without support she may find it more difficult to get better.

Listen to her – let her talk to you in her own way, she may tell you the same thing many times, be patient.

Learn to read her body language – there may be things she cannot say.

Accept the good feelings and the bad – bad thoughts kept to herself take on immense and unreal proportions.

Do not judge or dismiss.

Do not say – “Pull yourself together”.

Give it time.

Encourage her to seek professional help.

There is a lot of knowledge and help now available to assist women through this difficult time.

Midwives are the first professionals to look after women following childbirth, they will be alerted to any difficulties during the early days. The midwife will have become a familiar face to the woman and her family through the pregnancy and will be quick to note and anxieties the woman may have in adapting to motherhood.

The midwife and health visitor provide home visits after the birth ad are likely to see difficulties in the home environment.

Crying for no apparent reason.

A feeling of persistent sadness.

Feeling of failure.

Excessive anxiety and irritability.

Exhaustion, lack of enthusiasm.

Lack of energy.

Unable to sleep or relax.

Loss of appetite.

Erratic eating.

The daily chores are too much.

Obsessively occupied with housework.

Excessive anxiety with own or baby’s health.

Poor concentration.

Loss of memory.

Indecisiveness.

Physical symptoms include aches, pains, nausea and headaches.

As many as one woman in five will develop Postnatal Depression (PND) and in some circumstances the risk is even higher. Postnatal Depression is common following childbirth and you are more likely to develop a mental illness at this time than during any other time in your life.

Post Natal Depression affects 15 per cent of all new mothers and it is largely overlooked by Health Professionals and people involved with caring for young families.

Mothers are the lynchpin of families, and the mental health of a mother consequently affects so many more people.