What
is Postnatal Illness?
Postnatal illness (often referred to by the medical profession as
postnatal depression) affects about 10% of mums after the birth
of a child. Most mums are tired and emotional for a few days or
weeks as they recover from the birth and adjust to the demands of
a new baby, this is often called the baby blues. It is more likely
to be postnatal illness if these feelings persist or worsen as time
goes on.
Symptoms
Feeling unable to cope with the demands of the new baby and
the home
Feeling hopeless, sad and crying frequently
Feeling depressed
Persistent anxiety and fearfulness, sometimes panic
attacks
Obsessive thoughts
Feeling tense, short tempered and irritable with those
around you
Persistent tiredness and lack of energy, even if you
get enough sleep
Memory problems or an inability to concentrate, simple
tasks seem confusing and too much effort
Inexplicable aches and pains
Worrying about the health of yourself, the baby or
other members of the family
Feeling numb and lacking in emotion, you might also
have a lack of feeling for your baby
Difficulty sleeping sometimes leading to insomnia
Poor or increased appetite
Loss of interest in sex, and general disaffection with
your partner
Having had a traumatic birth can also contribute to
emotional disturbances and sleeping difficulties
A mum may
experience some or all of the above symptoms and is likely to
feel ashamed that she is not coping as well as others seem to
be.
Very occasionally
some women (about one in five hundred) develop puerperal psychosis.
This is a severe form of postnatal illness with symptoms including
believing strange things (delusions), hearing voices, seeing visions,
becoming emotionally changeable and very chaotic. In such cases
hospitalisation of mum and baby is usually recommended until the
mum recovers.
Postnatal
Illness Causes |
How Bad Is It?
If you want
to write to your doctor but unsure what information they need
then please click on the referral
form
|
