Postnatal depression

Sometimes depression can take up to six months for a mother to realize that she has a problem, still not knowing what the problem could be Some times. It could take longer in some postnatal depression cases depending on the experiences they have gone through over their life time, and how severe there postnatal depression is.

A mother may have the feelings that something is just not right about the way she feels, since becoming pregnant or having her baby and may begin to feel depressed. Some mothers know they are feeling very different or unusual to them, and sad with postnatal depression because they dont know they have Postnatal Problem and have not seen a GP and been diagnosed with depression, or ‘baby blues’ as it is sometimes referred too.

Postnatal depresion feelings

  • Do you feel you are a failure as a mother
  • Do you have horrible thoughts about your life, yourself, or your baby?
  • Do you think about devastating things happening to your baby?
  • Are you frightened or anxious about your baby’s health or safety?
  • Do you have obsessive thoughts about bacteria/germs or illness harming your baby?
  • Are you constantly thinking ‘what would happen if..?
  • Do you feel you are a ‘bad parent’
  • Did you feel no emotions for your child after you gave birth?
  • Are you able to enjoy life, have a laugh or see the funny side of certain occurrences.
  • Do you feel ‘not right’ since the birth?
  • Do you avoid talking about the birth of your precious child, or cry a lot more than you usually would?
  • Are you not showing how you truly feel?

Some symptoms that can occurin postnatal depression:

  • Feeling physically ill and having physical symptoms that are
    unusual for you such as chest pains, breathing problems,
  • headaches, dizziness, many minor illnesses and stomach upsets.
    Worrying constantly about the health of yourself your baby, other
    children or family and friends
  • Many women with PNI describe a feeling of having ’blurred’ vision
  • Obsessive thoughts or repetitive, chanting thoughts or voices
    Unkind thoughts that you may harm somebody close
  • Panic attacks and anxiety
  • Having worries that everyday objects could become weapons to harm your child, yourself ,or your family
  • Having ‘what if’ thoughts about what could happen if they did
  • Feelings that you are a ‘bad’ mother
  • A constant feeling of having nothing left to live for
  • Having a constant need to revisit the birth because you feel that things were out of your control
  • Not being able to talk about the birth
  • Awful feelings or thoughts about your own health or child/partners
  • A feeling of sadness since the baby
  • that you are creating unhappiness by just being around family or friends
  • A lack of emotion or feeling of anything
  • Putting on a ‘brave face’.
  • The feeling of being constantly tired all the time even when if you have slept greatAll of the above are just some feelings and symptoms you may experience with postnatal depression. Always ensure you get all the help that is available including GP’s, health visitors, or social services. Once the help is accepted, you will progress with time.

Filed under: Health • Pregnancy

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