How long does postnatal depression last?
PND can last anywhere from a few weeks to multiple months and, because symptoms can appear gradually, many women don't realise they have it.
It's important to know that, whenever symptoms show themselves, there is help available.
Can PND be prevented?
While there is no evidence to suggest that PND can be prevented, measures a woman can take during pregnancy that may lessen the chances of PND occurring include:
Maintaining awareness of how you're feeling
Putting support systems in place and having someone with whom you can really talk about your feelings
Maintaining as healthy a lifestyle as possible – try to rest as much as possible, eat a good diet little and often, and exercise within reason
Not having too high expectations of labour, birth and motherhood
Possible risk factors and causes
"When I had my first son I thought we'd made a mistake. I was ashamed of thinking that. With my second son I was terrified he was going to die. I'm well now and love my boys. My recovery was quicker because I asked for help and did what I was advised."
There are many possible risk factors for PND. It’s worth being aware of these so that, if you are in the higher-risk bracket, you can seek treatment more quickly.
A history of mental health problems in general or a history of mental health problems during pregnancy
Unresolved childhood trauma
Stressful home life
Other major life events coinciding with your baby's birth, including bereavement, illness or redundancy
Other risk factors
Having had fertility treatment
Having a traumatic birth
Previously having experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth or termination
Being a victim of domestic violence
A close female relative having experienced PND
Relationship problems
Hormonal changes
Experiencing a role change in relationship/career
Being a mother of multiples
Rare conditions
Could I have postpartum psychosis?
Postpartum psychosis, or puerperal psychosis, is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening mental health issue. It takes the form of severe depression, mania or both.
Postpartum psychosis can appear out of the blue in women with no previous history of mental illness. If acted upon quickly it can be treated, otherwise symptoms can escalate drastically which can result in serious consequences. Symptoms vary from woman to woman but they will often experience delusions or hallucinations coupled with depression, mania or confusion.
It will more than likely be the case that the mother won’t recognise these symptoms herself – it will be those around her who should seek help and act immediately as this is considered a medical emergency. Specialist mother and baby units can provide care without separating mum and baby.
Only one or two mums in every thousand suffer from it and they’re likely to already be suffering from mental illness or to have done so in the past. Most women make a full recovery but it can take weeks or months.
What is postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder?
"Hallmarks of PTSD are intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares (not necessarily all three but often two of them), avoiding thinking about what happened and avoiding situations that remind you of what happened, and being on high alert all the time. If that matches how you feel, you need to tell your doctor."
Postnatal PTSD can be the result of a problematic birth. It can also be caused by anxiety that afflicts some women after becoming mothers and can strike immediately or months after giving birth.
It can manifest itself in obsessive thoughts about death – fear of dying or fear of your baby dying – and it’s essential you share your concerns with your GP, midwife or health visitor.
What to do if you’re worried you might hurt your baby
Some women worry about having thoughts about harming their baby. Elizabeth Hill says, “Intrusive thoughts can be overwhelming and very scary. Do not wait for them to go away on their own. They can be distressing but are often a symptom of something else – an anxiety or depression which needs to be treated.”
If you're worried about harming your baby then remember that thinking about it doesn't mean you will do it, but always seek help from a medical professional nonetheless.
PND in men
"My DH was badly affected after the birth of my DS, at the same time that I was suffering from PND. The pregnancy/birth hormones didn't seem to be the only factor and I feel strongly that men who experience this are not told it's only for women. In this country, we are good enough at stigmatising mental health without making it any harder for fathers to seek help or talk about what's happening to them."
While the term 'PND' naturally conjures up the image of a new mum, the risk of depression in men doubles during the first year of being a dad, according to the National Childbirth Trust, and is especially high between months three and six after the birth.
Just as in mothers, the illness can be caused by hormonal changes that come about after the birth of a new baby, but often goes undiagnosed in men. Of mothers experiencing PND, up to 50% of male partners will also experience it at the same time.
PND is treated in much the same way whether the sufferer is male or female, so in either case it's important to contact your GP and talk it through with them so that they can recommend the best course of action.