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Postnatal Depression
After the birth of a baby many mums suffer from the so-called baby blues. Typically this occurs on day three postnatally. This is a physiological condition resulting from a drastic decline in pregnancy hormones and it leaves women feeling sensitive, weepy, vulnerable and very emotional.
Within a few days, however, the vast majority of women will be on the road to recovery and they get on with the business of adapting to motherhood and disrupted sleep!
Sometimes though a new mum may not recover just so easily. She may begin to feel overwhelmed by the sheer changes that have occurred in her life and weighed down with the responsibility of caring for a dependant new baby. She may feel she simply can’t cope. And she may even find herself having severe mood-swings, self-harming or suicidal thoughts, trouble bonding with her baby or being overly protective of the baby.
About one in ten mums suffer from postnatal depression although many never discuss it openly.
And postnatal depression can strike long after the baby's birth; sometimes mums are not diagnosed for up to 18 months or longer.
It also tends to get worse with each subsequent pregnancy, so it is vital to seek medical advice.
Discuss your symptoms with your doctor or health-visitor if feel you may have PND so that you can be treated appropriately.
Your doctor will probably ask you to fill out a questionaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, which determines whether or not you have postnatal depression and the severity of it.
If left untreated, PND can get worse. Sometimes a partner, friend or relative may notice changes in a mum's personality and they may urge her to seek help.
In most cases a course of mild antidepressants, counselling and more free time may be all that is required. Going out for a brisk walk, with or without the baby, and a brief sleep at some point during the day can help immensely.
However, if your doctor feels that medication is necessary remember to tell her that you are breastfeeding.
Naturally no mum would choose to unnecessarily expose her baby to drugs but many antidepressants can be safely taken when breastfeeding. So you can continue to breastfeed and receive appropriate treatment. Your doctor will discuss this with you.
You should not be made to feel that you should give up breastfeeding just because you have postnatal depression (PND).
Many women suffer from some degree of PND and successfully breastfeed. Decide for yourself whether you feel able to continue breastfeeding.
Celebrities Who Have Suffered Postnatal Depression
By its very nature, many women are reluctant to discuss postnatal depression. However, in recent times some well-known celebrities have spoken openly about their own PND. By so doing, they have helped lift some of the stigma associated with it.
Celebrities who have spoken about suffering from postnatal depression include:
Fern Britton (TV Personality);
Sadie Frost (Actress);
Natasha Hamilton (former Atomic Kitten singer);
Elle Macpherson (Model);
Melinda Messenger (Model and TV Personality);
Gail Porter (Model and TV Personality);
Katie Price (aka Jordan, Model);
Brooke Shields (Model, Actress and Author of Down Came The Rain: A Mother's Story of Depression And Recovery).
