Your Post Natal HealthPostnatal DepressionYou may find that you need extra help and support after the birth. It helps if you know what to expect – and where to find the information you need. Postnatal depression (PND) is quite common. It affects about 15 per cent of new mothers, but many more feel tired, low, occasionally distressed, isolated and lonely. It usually starts about three weeks or so after the birth. Isolation does seem to be part of postnatal depression. It can be hard to get out and about and to stay in touch with friends when you have a new baby. Or when you do get out, everyone seems to be coping better than you are – and you feel even worse than before. It could be that guilt and disappointment are part of depression. Maybe you feel bad because you don’t think you love your baby as much as you feel you should. Or you thought being a mum would be wonderful – and it just isn’t. Some experts think the cause might be connected with your changing hormones. These are some of the feelings you might have if you have postnatal depression:
You need help if you have any of these symptoms often enough to worry you. Everyone feels tired, sad and a bit weepy from time to time – but if this is the usual thing for you, then you may have postnatal depression. More information about postnatal depression is available in the All About Mum section. Who to ask for help:Your baby health centre is trained to offer support to women with postnatal depression, and to advise when further help from your doctor or elsewhere would be useful. They may be able to put you in touch with other mums. Your doctor may prescribe anti-depressants, or refer you to other forms of help. Friends, your partner and family can also help and support you. You don’t need to hide how bad you feel – you deserve a lot of support at this time. A counsellor or psychotherapist (via your doctor) can also help. See our Links and Resources section on Health Assistance for contacts to support services in the community. We also have a Post Natal Support Forum within the Huggies Forum it's a great place to talk to other mums. The important point is that PND is curable – with the right help. Your baby needs you to feel okay, too. Long-term, postnatal depression has been shown to have an effect on babies’ development and learning. Don’t confuse postnatal depression with the ‘baby blues’ some women have after the birth for no more than a few days. About one new mum in every 500 has an especially severe form of postnatal mental illness called puerperal psychosis. This means she may have hallucinations, or stay awake for days, or be extremely ‘high’ and energetic. It’s always obvious to the people around the mum that something’s not right. This form of illness is not postnatal depression, and it needs immediate medical help. Some women need to be in hospital for the right sort of help. Return of Your PeriodIf you are not breastfeeding your period usually returns 4-8 weeks after the birth. If you are fully breastfeeding, that is no supplementary feeds, it is likely you will not get your period until you have started to reduce the number of feeds your baby is having. This is not a rule and some women find their period returns quickly. Although you may not have had a period, it is still possible to ovulate and fall pregnant before you start menstruating again, so you should consider your contraception method if you are not ready for another baby. It is not uncommon for a woman’s menstrual cycle to change after childbirth. Many women report heavier bleeding, while others say there period is lighter and doesn’t last as long. Your cycle may be irregular at first, as ovulation may be erratic. It really is an individual response. If you are concerned about the amount of blood you pass while menstruating, seek advice from your doctor.
Please return soon to find more updated information about your post natal health. |
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from Alex - NSW Midwives Assoc.Everything that a mother eats is passed on to her baby through the breast milk. |
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