A study has found that anxiety is more common than depression among new mothers.
Researchers surveyed mothers of healthy babies before birth and then followed them up at several points after birth.
They found that more women suffered from anxiety than depression and that this was associated with greater use of health services and lower rates of breastfeeding.
Sue Ieraci
Public hospital clinician
It should also be noted that anxiety can be a prominent feature of a depressive illness. Feelings of anxiety do not exclude post-natal depression, and should not discourage mothers from seeking help.