What is postnatal depression, what are the symptoms and which celebrity mums have suffered from it?
MOTHERS are increasingly speaking out about their battles with mental health issues and a number have admitted to struggling with post natal depression.
With one in ten mums reportedly affected after giving birth, here’s all you need to know about the condition…
What is postnatal depression?
Postnatal depression is a type of depression that affects parents after they have a baby.
The major depression is triggered by childbirth but is much more severe than just the “baby blues”.
It can also occur following a miscarriage or stillbirth of a baby.
What are the signs and symptoms of postnatal depression?
Many women can feel emotional and anxious after the birth of their child, commonly referred to as the “baby blues”, this will only last for a few weeks after giving birth.
If these symptoms start to last longer the that you could be suffering with postnatal depression.
The symptoms include but are not limited to: a persistent feeling of sadness, lack of enjoyment and loss of interest in the outside world, as well as your baby, and a lack of energy.
These signs can build up gradually so a lot of people don’t immediately identify that they have postnatal depression.
Which celebrity mums have spoken about postnatal depression?
A number of celebrity mums have opened up about suffering from postnatal depression following giving birth.
Singer Adele has said that after the birth of her son Angelo she felt ‘inadequate’ and embarrassed to talk about how she was feeling.
John Legend’s wife and model Chrissy Teigen revealed she was diagnosed with postnatal depression in December after going into a downward spiral following the birth of her daughter Luna.
Gwyneth Paltrow explained she was dogged by postnatal depression after son Moses was born in 2006.
Loose Woman Stacey Solomon said she suffered from depression after the birth of her first son Zachary when she was just 18 years old.
While her co-host Andrea McLean has also talked about the condition on the programme.
Another famous face to talk about her experience is WAG Rebekah Vardy after she gave birth to son Finley with footballer husband Jamie Vardy.
Kate Middleton visited Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute at King’s College London to discuss postpartum depression with experts.
After speaking to scientists, the Duchess reflected on the day; although she has never explicitly claimed to have suffered with it, she said: “There’s an expectation you’re going to be super happy all the time, and one in four of us aren’t.”
Melanie Hughes, former Miss Wales and Corrie actress tragically passed away in October 2017 due to her heavy drinking, linked to her post natal depression.
How is postnatal depression treated?
The first step is to contact your GP or health visitor who will be trained to identify the problem.
Once you have been diagnosed the NHS recommend a number of different treatments:
- Help yourself by talking to your loved ones, resting as much as possible, doing things you enjoy and eating healthily and exercising regularly
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may also be recommended by your GP
- Antidepressants as with regular depression these can help, but are likely to only be recommended when the symptoms are particularly strong
- There are also suggestions that eating the placenta after giving birth or having an epidural during childbirth can help prevent postpartum depression although this is not confirmed.
The National Childbirth Trust's advice on seeking help if you're suffering
1. Seek professional help from your doctor
2. One of the most helpful things is to talk to other mums and dads – it can be very reassuring to find that all new parents share the same anxieties and frustrations. Meeting others in the same position will give you a chance to share skills and experiences, to realise you are not alone, and above all get some emotional and practical support. Call NCT to find out what’s happening in your area on 0300 330 0700
3. Share your feelings with people you trust. It’s important to feel understood and supported. A sympathetic listener, who can hear about your feelings and worries without judging, can bring enormous relief. It could be a health visitor, a friend or a counsellor.
4. Give yourself time to adjust to motherhood and recover from giving birth.
5. Try and get help with the childcare and take some time for yourself, even an hour here and there can make a difference.
6. Take some exercise each day, like a walk with the buggy or swimming: exercise has a positive effect on mood and sense of wellbeing.
7. Maintain a healthy diet; eating badly or skipping meals can make you feel tired and irritable, so try to eat simple and nutritious meals.
8. You could try mindfulness, which is a way of paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – which can improve your mental wellbeing
9. Accept help and support from your partner, family and friends. Try to share as many jobs around the house as possible, for instance. Allowing people to support you and your partner through this time will make things easier.
How common is postnatal depression after having a baby?
Postnatal/postpartum depression is a lot more common than most people realise.
Reportedly one in ten women suffer with the condition after giving birth.
Some studies also indicate that men have a 10 per cent chance of struggling with the condition, reportedly being most susceptible three to six months after their baby is born.
For more information about postpartum depression visit the or contact your GP.
Or you can call the National Childbirth Trust on 0300 330 0700 or visit their website: