Postnatal Depression - Signs and Symptoms

I’ve written a lot about my own experiences of Postnatal Depression but this kind of mental illness can affect people so differently. When my symptoms continued way past the typical length you’d expect for the baby blues, I would spend hours secretly googling PND to see whether my symptoms matched up. Whilst I had a lot of them, I was also experiencing things that weren’t listed so I was left feeling even more confused.

I had no idea that Postnatal Depression could manifest itself in so many different ways. When people of think of maternal mental illness especially the depression, I think people assume it’s new parents crying all the time and not bonding with their babies. Those symptoms are of course very common of Postnatal Depression but there are so many more signs to look out for.

Signs and Symptoms

· Feelings of failure and hopelessness

· Severe anxiety

· Obsessive behaviours

· Intrusive and frightening thoughts about harming yourself or your baby

· Easily irritated

· Intense anger and rage

· Persistent sadness and low mood

· Crying a lot

· Difficulties in bonding with your new baby or feeling detached from them

· Loss of appetite or comfort eating

· Inability to sleep or sleeping too much

· Not feeling adequate to look after your baby

· Overwhelming fatigue which no amount of sleep can help with

· Withdrawing from loved ones

· Losing interest in things you used to enjoy

· Feelings of worthlessness, guilt and shame

· Problems concentrating

Having done NCT and realising how little maternal mental health is touched upon, I hope that by writing this blog in particular I can help to raise awareness of perhaps some of the lesser known symptoms. If the NCT instructor had talked to us about mental health and the signs to look out for, perhaps Mr N might have spotted my struggles sooner. So much more needs to be done in the antenatal period that's for sure. Midwives are so stretched that appointments for me were brief and I never felt like there was enough time to discuss how I was really feeling. My physical health was looked after but definitely not my mental health. Antenatal classes including NCT need to include details of the maternal mental health illnesses that can arise so that both sets of parents are prepared.

Since getting involved in the weekly #PNDHour, I’ve learnt that it isn’t just Mums who can suffer with PND or PTSD from the birth. It can affect Dads too and this is something I’d never heard of before which reflects the stigma associated with all kinds of mental illness. Typically, men are less likely to admit to finding things tough because of the stereotype of a ‘manly man’ who cannot show his feelings. There are a lot of Dads who are doing amazing work in this area to try and raise awareness of PND in men. It’s definitely something to bear in mind when someone you know has a baby. Don’t assume that it’s just the Mum you need to look after. New Dads need support anyway but even more so if they're experiencing the early signs of PND.

I’ve also learnt from writing this blog and speaking to others who have struggled like me that PND doesn’t just affect first time parents. Just because someone you know already has one or two children doesn’t mean they’ll escape it. It’s probably harder to deal with when you aren’t a first time parent because you’re expected to be able to cope. “You’ve done this before so how come you’re struggling now”.

Every blog I write I hope that I can help one person feel less alone in their battle. I hope that I can help one person understand what their loved one is going through. I hope I can help raise awareness so that one person can spot the signs of Postnatal Depression in someone close to them.

If I can help just one person by opening up about my own battle, then it’s all been worth it.