After giving birth to your little one, I bet the last few weeks have flown by in a bit of a blur with little regard to how you are doing. So, let’s have a quick check in…
In those first few days, you may have experienced what is commonly known as “Baby Blues”. Unexpected feelings of anxiety, tearfulness and worry can often be felt from day 2 or 3 following your baby’s arrival, but should have subsided by around day 10. Don’t be surprised if a kind offer of a cup of tea can see you in floods of tears! Just go with it and remember you have just had a baby. A certain level of emotion is to be expected.
In these early days, your emotions are not the same as postnatal depression, which can leave Mums (and partners) feeling hopeless, sad and experiencing unjustified feelings of guilt and doubt regarding their parenting ability. Postnatal depression generally lasts for weeks, if not months, and the symptoms can range from mild to severe.
It is really important that if you are experiencing anything like this, that you tell your friends and family, so that they can offer you a little bit of extra TLC. If you find that these feeling are prolonged and aren’t showing any signs of going, chat to your midwife, who will be able to offer additional support. Suffering with postnatal depression or anxiety is not something you just “snap out of” but with the right support, these symptoms can be treated and most women make a full recovery.
