Postnatal depression (PND) affects many woman after childbirth, and is a depressive illness that ranges drastically in severity, from just a mild case of feeling ‘low’ (often called the baby blues) to acute mental disturbances which are known as ‘postnatal psychosis’. PND commonly develops in the first few months following childbirth and can be very persistent, but doctors are not sure exactly how long it lasts for as in many cases it develops into ‘ordinary’ depression, which has very similar symptoms. It is thought that changing hormones and extreme stress of pregnancy, childbirth and caring for a new baby are a major contributing factors to PND.

PND Symptoms:
· Feeling upset, miserable and low for much of the time, with no real reasons
· Inability to enjoy new things, and things you have always enjoyed before
· Feelings of irritability and resentfulness, particular with partner, but also with new baby and other dependents
· Mild to severe feelings of anxiety for no apparent reasons
· Low energy, inability to sleep
· Poor appetite, no interest in food.

Related Tags

• acute post natal depression
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• depression site:www medicointern com