Postnatal depression can affect different women in different ways. The symptoms can begin soon after the birth and last for months (or in severe cases, for over a year).

The symptoms of PND usually include one or more of the following:

• low mood for prolonged periods of time (a week or more),
• feeling irritable for a lot of the time,
• tearfulness,
• panic attacks or feeling trapped in your life,
• difficulty concentrating,
• lack of motivation,
• lack of interest in yourself and your new baby,
• feeling lonely,
• feeling guilty, rejected, or inadequate,
• feeling overwhelmed,
• feeling unable to cope,
• difficulty sleeping, and
• physical signs of tension, such as headaches, stomach pains, or blurred vision.

You may also feel constantly tired, have a lack of appetite, and a reduced sex drive. However, these symptoms normally affect most people for a while after childbirth and, on their own, may not mean that you are depressed.

PND can interfere with your day-to-day life. Some women feel unable to look after their baby, and others feel too anxious to leave the house or to keep in touch with friends. Many mothers do not recognise that they have PND, and do not talk to family and friends about how they are really feeling. So it is important for partners, family members, and friends to recognise the signs of PND at an early stage, and to seek professional health advice as soon as possible.

Some women who have PND get thoughts about harming their baby. This is quite common, affecting about half of all women with the condition. You may also have thoughts about harming, or killing, yourself. Thoughts like these do not mean that you are a bad or unfit mother, and it is very rare for either mother or baby to be harmed. However, it is vital that you see your GP if you have these or any other symptoms of PND. Treatment will benefit both your health and the healthy development of your baby, as well as your relationship with your partner, family and friends.