Health advice

Postnatal depression

Postnatal depression is a mental health condition that develops after having a baby. Read more to learn about symptoms, treatment and where else to go for help with postnatal depression.

What is postnatal depression?

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that affects women after having a baby. It is a common condition with around 1 in 10 mothers experiencing it after giving birth.¹

Although postnatal depression can be difficult to deal with, it is treatable. Talk to your GP, midwife or health visitor if you’re worried you may have depression.

What are the symptoms of postnatal depression?

The symptoms of postnatal depression are the same as depression. But to have postnatal depression, you must experience a new episode of depression that starts within a year of having a baby.²

Some of these symptoms are:

A low mood or feeling down

A loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

Difficulty concentrating

Problems sleeping

Struggling to take care of yourself

A lack of energy.³

What causes postnatal depression?

Having a baby can be life-changing. The changes to your daily life as well as your health and well-being can have a huge impact.

Anyone can experience postnatal depression. But some things can make you more likely to experience it.

Some of these things include:

Having a previous history of mental health issues

Having a traumatic birth

Stress during pregnancy

A lack of social support

Thyroid problems during pregnancy

Substance abuse issues.⁴

Is postnatal depression the same as the baby blues?

The ‘baby blues’ is a term for feeling down or anxious in the first week after giving birth. This is a common experience, and it does not mean you have postnatal depression. But sometimes, you can develop postnatal depression after having the baby blues.⁵

A big difference between the baby blues and postnatal depression is that the baby blues should disappear on their own within two weeks of giving birth.

If you continue to feel low or anxious and it causes a big impact on your life, you may have postnatal depression. It’s important to talk to your GP, midwife or health visitor as soon as you think you may have postnatal depression.

When does postnatal depression start?

Postnatal depression can start anytime in the first year after having a child. Some people find their postnatal depression comes on suddenly, while for others it begins mild and gets worse as time goes on.³

If it’s not properly treated, postnatal depression can continue for months or even years. That’s why it’s important to get help as soon as possible.³

What other conditions are linked to postnatal depression?

Because having a child is such a big life event, many mental health conditions can develop after giving birth. These may be anxiety disorders like generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly if you had a traumatic birth experience.³

Some people also develop postpartum psychosis after giving birth. This can also include depression as well as other symptoms. Some of these symptoms include:

Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)

Delusions (strong beliefs or thoughts that aren’t true)

Mania (an extreme high mood and energy level).⁶

Can men have postnatal depression?

Anyone can experience postnatal depression. Whether your partner carried the child, or you became a parent through adoption, you can still have postnatal depression.

Up to 1 in 10 men experience postnatal depression after having a child. The risk factors and symptoms for men are the same as for women who have postnatal depression.⁷

If you are a man struggling with postnatal depression, there is help available for you. Talk to your GP about your symptoms and they can help provide treatment. This might be medication such as anti-depressants or talking therapy.

How is postnatal depression treated?

There are a range of different treatments for postnatal depression, so you can find the one that’s right for you. You may find talking therapy helps. One example of talking therapy is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps you to challenge negative thoughts and feelings.⁸

Medications like antidepressants can also help with postnatal depression. If you’re breastfeeding, you may still be able to take antidepressants.⁸

Some people find a mixture of both talking therapy and antidepressants most helpful.⁸

How else can you manage postnatal depression?

There are many self-help techniques that can help you manage postnatal depression. Eating regular, healthy meals and exercising regularly can improve your mood.⁸

It can be helpful to let your support system know you’re struggling. Your partner, close friends or family may be able to listen and support you.

Getting as much rest as possible is important for treating depression, but it can be difficult if you have a baby.⁸ Sleeping when you can and asking for help with the baby at night can help you manage your symptoms.