Postnatal Depression

This term is connected more with the baby after birth than with the mother but results in the mother’s depression. A mother can show signs within the first 12 months after the baby is born, as the mother is faced with numerous challenges mostly relating to the new-born. These challenges can be some of the following:

• The baby does not want to drink or has great difficulty in drinking
• The new born baby won’t stop crying
• The baby has continual diarrhoea.
• The baby suffers from chronic wind pains

This causes the mother to feel she is unable to cope with the demands of the new-born, and this results in depression. Just like with Postpartum Psychosis, it is a temporary condition and will pass, but it is vital for friends and family members to offer their support and help.

Now that we all are aware and understand the various stages of depression suffered by a new mother after the birth of her child, let us consider Postpartum Psychosis in more depth.