Women who are physically active in the postnatal period report better mental well-being than those who are less active, but the pandemic has made exercise less accessible.
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Articles on Postnatal depression
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A study examined the psychological and social experiences of over 600 women with babies between birth and 12 weeks during the first UK lockdown.
It can be extremely distressing and stigmatising for a woman to experience a mental disorder around the time of childbirth.
The percentage of women receiving the recommended perinatal mental health screening has tripled since 2000 – but one in five women are still missing out.
About 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth experience a mental illness.
New study finds that giving birth through an emergency caesarean increases the risk of developing postnatal depression in the first nine months after childbirth by about 15%.
Having a stressed and depressed father can have serious implications for infants and relationships. And supporting a father who may be experiencing mental ill health means supporting the mother too.
NHS plans to screen at risk fathers for postnatal depression.
Mothers who cannot breastfeed are absolutely not failing, rather, they are being failed.
Cliched comments like “it wasn’t meant to be” or “don’t worry, you’ll get pregnant” are hurtful and dismissive. Instead, acknowledge their loss, listen and let them grieve.
Here’s how common it is to develop mental health problems in pregnancy or in the first year after birth.
Postnatal depression in men is starting to be recognised, but mental health services aren’t geared up to help this group.
Many women are not getting the right kind of attention.
Depression and anxiety during pregnancy are only recently gaining attention. But seeking help early can make a big difference for expecting mothers – and for their children and families.
A new baby is life-changing for all parents, but for those whose babies are born too early, the challenges can be immense.
It will come as no surprise that some new fathers will be anxious or highly stressed. However, most people believe only new mums suffer postnatal depression. This is not the case.
Supporting new mothers to make weekly “time for themselves” in the first six months after giving birth may reduce the prevalence of postnatal depression.
In recent times, we have learnt more about the connections between the “reproductive” or gonadal hormones and the brain, and how they affect not only women but men as well.
Postnatal depression affects around one in six women. In this sense, it’s the most common complication of pregnancy.
Top contributors
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Professor of Psychiatry, Monash University
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Associate professor, University of Newcastle
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Senior Principal Research Fellow, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
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Director of the Centre for Women’s Mental Health at the Royal Women’s Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne
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George Patton is a Friend of The Conversation.
Professor of Adolescent Health Research, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Psychiatry, Director of National Centre for Mental Health, Cardiff University
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Senior Research Officer, Healthy Mothers Healthy Families, Population Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
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Professor of Social Psychology, Anglia Ruskin University
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Professor of Child Public Health, Swansea University
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Clinical Psychologist and Research Fellow, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
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Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland
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Lecturer in Health Psychology, University of Liverpool
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Research Associate in Social Science of Women’s Health, King's College London
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Principal Academic in Psychology, Bournemouth University
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Professor of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
