Depression in Pregnancy, and Post Natal Depression
Around 20% of women experience symptoms of depression during pregnancy or the postnatal period – so if you are experiencing depression during this time you are not alone.
The Black Dog Institute Post Natal Depression website
The adjustment to parenthood can be an exciting and challenging time for parents, babies and other young children in the family. For many women it is mostly a time of good health and well-being, although some episodes of tiredness, nausea, aches and pains, irritability, sleep disturbance and loss of interest in sex are relatively common as part of the normal adjustment process.
This section deals specifically with issues that arise when a woman is planning to conceive, is pregnant, or has recently given birth and is experiencing mood disorders or has a history of mood disorders.
Whilst the symptoms of depression and other mood disorders during pregnancy or the postnatal period resemble those seen at other times, treatments must take into account the foetus during pregnancy and the newborn infant, especially if the mother is breastfeeding.
From one woman to another, mood disorders can vary greatly in terms of symptoms, timing of onset, causes, severity and duration. There are also wide differences in terms of women’s needs for professional assessment and their preferred types of treatment.
The material on this website explores these and other issues and aims to provide clear, factual and helpful information to women and their partners.
The Beyondblue National Postnatal Depression Program
Having postnatal depression (PND) can be a frightening and isolating experience. Unfortunately, in Australia there is often stigma attached to women who are not happy following the birth of their child, who feel they are not coping with the demands of motherhood, or who do not instantly bond with, and love, their baby.
As a result, women may not feel like they can talk to their partner, family, friends or health professionals about how they are feeling. Some women may fear that they will be ridiculed or labelled as a bad mother if they tell anyone how they are really feeling. However, postnatal depression is a real illness and one from which women can recover given appropriate medical treatment, support and time.