Postnatal Illness

Here we are going to talk about how you might feel emotionally after the birth of your baby.  In the first days after giving birth you are likely to have a wave of different emotions.  This can be caused by changes your body will be going through - your hormone levels will be changing quickly.  It can also be caused by how overwhelming motherhood is.  We are now going to talk about two different emotional problems that you may experience; Postnatal Blues and Postnatal Depression.

Postnatal blues, or the 'baby blues' are experienced by more than half of all new mothers.  If you are experiencing postnatal blues then you could be going through the following:

• Tearfulness.  Crying for no exact reason.
• Feeling anxious and/or tense
• Feeling like you won't be able to cope with looking after your baby when you are left alone with your baby
• Having difficulties sleeping
• Feeling tired and unenergetic
• You may be having pains or feel unwell when there are no medical reasons for doing so

The 'baby blues' can last for a few hours, or for a few days at most and then they go away.

Posnatal depression is just like a 'normal' depression that anyone can go through, the difference in it though is that it is experienced at a time of the birth of a child which is usually a happy time.  The warning signs of postnatal depression are:

• Worrying a great deal about your baby's health
• Not being able to sleep properly
• Blaming yourself for things
• Feeling like you don't want to keep your baby.
• Finding it difficult to enjoy spending time with your baby
• Finding it difficult to take care of your baby, and yourself.
• Being worried that you might hurt yourself, or your baby

Postnatal depression usually gets better by itself but there are treatments that may help you feel better faster.  It is important if you have any worries to talk to either your doctor, nurse, midwife, family & friends about how you are feeling as they will be able to help and reassure you.

Helpful Websites:

The National Childbirth Trust

The Association for Post Natal Illness