Post-Pregnancy

If you are not feeling yourself

Feeling down, anxious or irritable for a few days after having a baby is very common. This is often called the baby blues, and it usually passes within two weeks of the birth. If it carries on, gets worse, starts later, or you are finding it hard to cope, please talk to your GP, midwife or health visitor. It could be postnatal depression, which is common and usually gets better with treatment. Please speak to them even if you only have some of these signs. You might:

• feel low, hopeless, or that you cannot cope
• find it hard to enjoy anything, or hard to bond with your baby
• feel guilty or worthless, or that you are a bad parent
• feel anxious, restless or irritable, find it hard to concentrate, or find it hard to sleep even when you get the chance to rest

Nothing we offer is a treatment for postnatal depression. If you need urgent help, including if you are having thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself or your baby, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or ask your GP for an urgent appointment. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night. If you feel you cannot keep yourself or your baby safe, or someone's life is at risk, call 999 or go to A&E. Rarely, a serious illness called postpartum psychosis starts suddenly, usually in the first two weeks after birth, with signs such as seeing or hearing things that are not there, confused thinking, or feeling very high. Your partner, family or friends may notice the signs before you do. It is a medical emergency, so please see a GP the same day or call 111, and call 999 or go to A&E if anyone may be in danger.