Post-Natal Depression

The first part of this blog looked at how previous episodes of depression and low self esteem can make a new mother vulnerable to post natal depression. Part 2 considers another three vulnerability factors. 1. Expectations of Motherhood The media presents motherhood in a way that creates very unrealistic expectations, how many times have you heard a new mother say that they didn’t realise how hard it was going to be? These expectations make the new mother vulnerable to depression when she realises she cannot meet them. Whether that it […]...

Having a baby makes you vulnerable to depression but not for the reasons that you may think. The first part of this blog considers two of these. In the first few weeks after having a baby the physical/hormonal adjustments that the body must make will have an impact on your emotions, leading to bouts of sudden and often unexplained tearfulness, this is referred to as ‘’the baby blues”. However, the body (from a physiological perspective) soon rebalances itself, we are designed to reproduce and our bodies are designed to cope […]...