Post-natal depression

By Dr Howard Lee

One in ten mothers get post-natal depression. It can last months or years. Dr Howard Lee explains the symptoms and how to get help

There are three types of post-natal emotional disturbance that can affect women:

1. The most rare and dramatic, which fortunately only affects about 2 in every 1000 new mothers, is Post-Natal Psychosis.

The symptoms are quite disturbing and complicated and you may not realise that you are suffering from them because you are out of touch with reality. They may occur within the first six weeks after delivery and include:

Marked disturbance in mood, characterised by:
a very high or elevated mood; or
a very low, depressed mood; or
moods that swing from high to low.
A disturbance in thought processes, with nonsensical conversation
Auditory or visual hallucinations
Sleep disturbance

No one really knows what causes this very distressing condition - it seems that there are many 'triggers'.

Psychiatric treatment is certainly necessary, however, and this may even include possible admission to hospital. This fact should not cause you unnecessary distress or worry as the outlook is very favourable for most women, who will go on to make a complete recovery.