The first week or so after giving birth is a really emotionally turbulent time. Our bodies and minds have been through something both joyous and traumatic and we need the time and space to process this event – all while trying to handle a newborn!
It can be overwhelming – but when does it cross the line from overwhelming to something more serious?
Baby blues are normal – they can cause you to feel weepy, anxious or even a bit down after giving birth. But this period shouldn’t last any longer than 2 weeks post-birth. If you feel that these emotions are intensifying and they continue past the two week mark, you may be suffering from postnatal depression, which can happen at any point the first year after giving birth.
Below is a checklist of symptoms that you may experience if you’re suffering from postnatal depression and advice for the next step to take if you’re experiencing it.
Difficulty sleeping
This is a major symptom of new motherhood anyway, but when it starts to hit a point where you are completely lacking energy and just feel exhausted constantly, it could be a sign that there’s something deeper going on. In some cases, insomnia can develop as a result of the exhaustion, or it can even be a case where the new mother can nap here and there during the day, but lays wide awake at night. Keep an eye on your sleeping patterns and communicate with other mothers, doctors and midwives about what’s considered ‘normal’ levels of tiredness.
Changes in appetite
Weight fluctuation – in moderation – after childbirth is common, especially with major media pressures on new mums to ‘get back in shape’ after baby – as if they haven’t just birthed an entire human. But when the weight is a serious loss or gain very quickly, you may be resorting to comfort over-eating or have had a loss of appetite, neither of which is normal.
Excessive mood changes
We’re all a little all over the place those first few weeks postpartum, but if you’re finding yourself weepy very often, agitated or extremely worried and anxious, that’s a red flag. If irritability at a partner can turn to apathy and disinterest in the world just as quickly, it might be time to contact someone about what you’re feeling. Friends might comment that you’re very emotional, or speaking negatively about yourself and that can be hard to hear, but mostly, people are just concerned about you and want to check in.
Feeling inadequate
This is one of the most common signs of postpartum depression. Feeling hopeless, despairing, not good enough, guilty or afraid of being alone are all common signs and shouldn’t be dismissed as ‘baby blues’. Having a negative or frightening thoughts, like that baby doesn’t love you, that you’re unable to look after baby properly, or feeling no enjoyment of being with baby are all things you should discuss with friends, your partner or a GP. It’s important to tell people you trust if you’re not feeling a bond or don’t want to play with baby. If you’re also feeling excessive concern over baby’s health constantly and feel worried about them to an extreme level, this is also a warning sign.
Difficulty concentrating
This can be anything from difficulty making decisions to losing all sense of time. What can seem like ten minutes, turns into a couple of hours before you know it. You may have difficulty completing your routine, sticking to basics tasks – this is not the same as being busy. This is feeling disconnected from the world around you.
When is it time to contact someone?
You should contact a GP or call 112 (Ireland) or 112 (UK), immediately if you have frightening thoughts about hurting your baby (these can be scary, but people with these kinds of thoughts rarely harm their baby). You should also do this if you are thinking about suicide and self-harm, you develop unusual beliefs (delusions) or have hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not real, like hearing voices).
Your baby will not be taken away from you if you seek help – babies are only taken into care in very exceptional circumstances. Being depressed does not mean you're a bad parent and it does not mean you're going mad.
This is not a struggle to go through alone and hope the problem will go away – it will only get worse if action isn’t taken. Depression is treatable and you can get better with the right help. Depression is an illness that needs to be treated, just like any physical illness and it's not your fault you're depressed – it can happen to anyone. Call your GP or midwife to discuss treatment options together.
